FNS Documents & Resources

The purpose of Farm to Food Bank Projects is to (a) reduce food waste at the agricultural production, processing, or distribution level through the donation of food, (b) provide food to individuals in need, and (c) build relationships between agricultural producers, processors, and distributors and emergency feeding organizations through the donation of food.

This page includes links to all the household USDA Foods Product Information Sheets for the fruits food group. 

This factsheet provides information on "Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption.".

This fact sheet provides information on Good Agricultural Practices, recognized practices intended to prevent the microbial contamination of fresh produce, and how these practices apply to purchasing and growing local food products for farm to school activities. 

This fact sheet outlines a number of additional resources for those seeking to directly purchase or raise food products for school nutrition programs.

"Food Safety Frequently Asked Questions: The Food Safety Modernization Act and its Impact on Farm to School Activities": This document includes common questions related to food safety when purchasing locally grown and raised food products directly from producers as well as food safety considerations for edible campus gardens.

A fact sheet, with information about handling fresh produce on salad bars, includes information for preparation and set up, temperature control, supervision and clean up. 

A fact sheet that identifies what school nutrition operators should consider when using a vacuum seal packaging system to ensure safe and quality products. 

Project summaries for the 29 TEFAP state agencies that received fiscal year 2022 Farm to Food Bank project funding.

To help those most in need receive healthy, fresh foods, USDA will be offering boxes of pre-packed, mixed fresh produce though The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), in addition to the single varieties that are already available to order.