This memorandum provides guidance to state distributing agencies and recipient agencies on the use of market basket analysis in procuring processed end products for USDA Foods in Schools and commercial goods for the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program.
This memorandum is meant to provide clarification and guidance on policies and procedures for donated food storage and distribution as they relate to product dating.
This webinar summarizes how the USDA Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program operates, discusses the SFSP dollars, explains the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Order Receipt System Defense Logistics Agency tasks, and describes best practices for using USDA DoD Fresh in the SFSP.
The purpose of this policy memorandum is to clarify the options available to state distributing agencies or recipient agencies in assigning value to USDA donated foods for audit purposes.
The purpose of this memorandum is to advise you of a new and revised requirement for all Receiving Organizations (i.e., organizations that receive shipments of Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foods, including Distributing Agencies, Indian Tribal Organizations (ITO), recipient agencies, processors, and warehouses). This memorandum replaces the previous FD-062 dated April 25, 2011 , and adjusts the maximum timeframe for entering shipment receipts in the Web-Based Supply Chain Management System.
USDA and DC Officials Kick-Off Summer Food Service Program for Children
Washington, DC, June 23, 2011 – USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Administrator Audrey Rowe joined D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) representatives at the 8th Annual "Free Summer Meals Kick off", a celebration of USDA's Summer Food Service Program in the District of Columbia. This summer, OSSE will offer more than 300 feeding sites throughout the city, providing free, nutritious meals to children up to age 18.
"Each summer, millions of families struggle to provide their children with nutritious meals when schools close, said Rowe. "The Summer Food Service Program fills this gap by marshalling resources to curb food insecurity and end hunger for our nation's children. We are proud of the District of Columbia and all the partnerships that make summer meals available to D.C. children. The commitment is not only admirable, but serves to encourage other states striving to provide nourishment to children in need."
During the regular school year, more than 21 million children nationwide receive free and reduced-priced meals through the National School Lunch Program, yet just more than 3 million kids are fed in summer meal programs. In July 2010, approximately 80 percent of eligible children (more than 28,000) were served by the D.C. Free Summer Meals Program, according to Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation, the Food Research and Action Center's (FRAC) analysis of national participation in Summer Nutrition Programs. Nationwide, only 15 percent of children participate in the SFSP program.
Rowe also focused on the administration's commitment to feed more hungry children this summer. She touted renewed efforts by USDA and its partners to highlight the important nutrition benefits provided by the SFSP, as well as other healthy meal options for low-income children. This summer:
- Let's Move! Faith and Communities (part of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative) will work with partners to host new feeding sites at congregations and neighborhood organizations;
- the Corporation for National and Community Service's 515 AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associates will work at anti-hunger organizations across the country to feed more children in programs, including the SFSP;
- sponsors will benefit from new waivers to simplify existing regulations in the SFSP to streamline ways to feed low-income children when school is out;
- and several states will test innovative enhancements to the SFSP, including the provision of food backpacks to provide assistance over weekends, and meal delivery to reach children in rural areas.
Improving child nutrition is the focal point of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act signed into law by President Obama in December 2010. The legislation reauthorized the SFSP and USDA's other child nutrition programs. The Act allows USDA, for the first time in over 30 years, the chance to make real reforms to school meals and increase access to these critical programs. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is also the legislative centerpiece of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative to end childhood obesity in a generation.
USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs, including the child nutrition programs, which touch the lives of one in four Americans over the course of a year. These programs work in concert to form a national safety net against hunger.
In Washington, D.C., families can find summer meal sites by calling toll free 311, texting 202.6565.EAT (328) or visiting dcfreesummermeals.org. Families can also call the National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-Hungry or 1-877-8-Hambre for information on all FNS nutrition assistance programs.
USDA Revela Mejoras a los Estándares Nutricionales de las Comidas Escolares
Washington, DC, 13 de Enero de 2011 - El Departamento de Agricultura publicó hoy una propuesta de ley para actualizar los estándares nutricionales de los alimentos servidos en el Programa Nacional de Almuerzos Escolares y el Programa de Desayunos Escolares. La propuesta forma parte de la Ley Saludable de Niños Libres de Hambre 2010 o Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, la cual fue firmada por el Presidente Obama en Diciembre 12, 2010. Los nuevos requisitos propuestos alzan los estándares de las comidas por primera vez en quince años para mejorar la salud y nutrición de casi 32 millones de niños que reciben alimentos escolares todos los días. Esto es una pieza importante de la iniciativa de la Primera Dama "Let’s Move!" la cual está enfocada en resolver el problema de obesidad infantil en una generación.
"Los Estados Unidos está actualmente enfrentando una epidemia de obesidad y una crisis de dietas desbalanceadas que está poniendo en riesgo el futuro de nuestros niños - y de nuestra nación," Dijo el Secretario de Agricultura Tom Vilsack. "Con tantos niños consumiendo la mitad de las calorías diarias en la escuela, fortalecer los estándares nutricionales es un gran paso de la Administración Obama en la lucha para combatir la obesidad infantil y mejorar la salud y el bienestar de todos nuestros niños."
Los cambios propuestos a los estándares de las comidas escolares añaden más frutas, vegetales, granos integrales, leche baja en grasa o sin grasa, y están basados en las recomendaciones publicadas en Noviembre del 2009 por el Instituto de Medicina de la Academia Nacional (IOM) las cuales están en el reporte School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children. Esto también requiere que las escuelas limiten los niveles de grasas saturadas, sodio, calorías, y grasas trans en las comidas.
La Ley Saludable de Niños Libres de Hambre 2010 le provee a las escuelas y comunidades una nueva herramienta para lograr el reto de proveer más alimentos nutritivos, entre otras el incremento del reembolso en las comidas escolares de 6 centavos por alimento y el incremento de asistencia técnica. Los programas de comidas escolares se llevan a cabo en conjunto entre el USDA, las agencias estatales y las escuelas locales y USDA trabajará con las escuelas y comunidades cuando la regulación esté finalizada y los nuevos estándares estén listos para ser implementados.
"Para crear una generación de niños saludables hay que trabajar duro y hay que tener determinación de parte de todos los sectores – el federal, estatal y local," dijo Vilsack. "USDA entiende que estándares más altos en las comidas escolares representa retos para algunos distritos escolares pero la nueva ley provee nuevos recursos de asistencia técnica y flexibilidad para las escuelas en elevar los estándares para nuestros niños."
De acuerdo con los datos del gobierno, aproximadamente 32 por ciento de los niños entre 6 y 19 años sufren de sobrepeso u obesidad. El riesgo de que estos niños sufran de enfermedades crónicas tales como presión alta, colesterol y diabetes tipo 2 es bastante probable. La actualización de los estándares en los alimentos escolares es central en la estrategia desarrollada por el grupo Childhood Obesity Task Force formado por el Presidente Obama para proveer comidas más saludables en las escuelas.
USDA está buscando opiniones del público sobre la propuesta hasta el 13 de abril de 2011. Aquellos interesados en revisar la propuesta y ofrecer comentarios por favor sometan sus opiniones en la página web www.regulations.gov. Este portal electrónico está diseñado para hacer más fácil la participación de los ciudadanos en el proceso legislativo. Los comentarios recibidos se tomarán en consideración antes de que la regulación final sea implementada.
El Servicio de Alimentos y Nutrición del USDA (FNS) administra 15 programas de asistencia nutricional (incluyendo los programas de nutrición infantil), que tocan la vida de una de cuatro personas en Estados Unidos en el curso del año. Estos programas trabajan en concierto para formar la red de seguridad nacional contra el hambre.
The attached memorandum is Food Distribution Policy Memo FD-110, which clarifies requirements in crediting for, and use of, USDA donated foods in contracts with food service management companies, and provides guidance to ensure compliance with such requirements in the first and final years of such contracts.
USDA Expands Access to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for Schools Across the Nation
Washington, DC, March 23, 2010 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that, as authorized by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), USDA will expand assistance to state agencies for schools operating USDA's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program in the 2011/2012 school year. The investment is part of the Obama administration's efforts to improve the health of our children by providing access to nutritious meals in schools and also serves as a valuable resource to schools that continue working to improve the health and nutrition of the foods they serve. The assistance will provide free fresh fruit and vegetables to children throughout the school day.
"Improving the health and nutrition of our kids is a national imperative and by providing schools with fresh fruits and vegetables that expand their healthy options, we are helping our kids to have a brighter, healthier future," said Vilsack. "Every time our kids eat a piece of fruit or a vegetable, they are learning healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime."
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, authorized and funded under Section 19 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and expanded in recent years as a result of the 2008 Farm Bill, operates in selected low-income elementary schools in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. This year, USDA plans to provide $158 million in assistance to state agencies. States then select schools to participate based on criteria in the law, including the requirement that each student receives between $50 and $75 worth of fresh produce over the school year.
"The program is highly successful in introducing schoolchildren to a variety of produce they otherwise might not have the opportunity to try," said Kevin Concannon, USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. "I am pleasantly surprised when children tell me it was their first time trying a particular fruit or vegetable. Fortunately children are learning fruits and vegetables are healthy choices and tasty alternatives to snacks high in fat, sugar, or salt."
In January, USDA published a proposed rule to update the nutrition standards for meals served through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs as part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, signed into law by President Barack Obama. The proposed rule, based on the latest science, will make the first major improvement to the nutritional quality of school meals in 15 years, and is an important component of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative to solve the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation. The standards will significantly increase fruit and vegetables provided at lunch and for the first time, both fruits and vegetables will be served daily.
Depending on enrollment and the allotment spent on each child, USDA estimates the expanded assistance could help schools serve additional 600,000 to 950,000 students in school year 2011-2012.
Based on funding levels provided by the 2008 Farm Bill, subject to Congressional action, the school year 2011/2012 FFVP planned allocations by State are:
- Alabama - $2,763,159
- Alaska - $1,755,808
- Arizona - $3,162,258
- Arkansas - $2,301,796
- California - $10,801,714
- Colorado - $2,824,910
- Connecticut - $2,464,720
- Delaware - $1,802,271
- District of Columbia - $1,728,948
- Florida - $6,234,011
- Georgia - $3,978,048
- Hawaii - $1,916,724
- Idaho - $1,968,034
- Illinois - $4,756,050
- Indiana - $3,184,978
- Iowa - $2,334,084
- Kansas - $2,286,251
- Kentucky - $2,654,152
- Louisiana - $2,702,175
- Maine - $1,908,818
- Maryland - $3,009,165
- Massachusetts - $3,200,777
- Michigan - $4,026,562
- Minnesota - $2,892,915
- Mississippi - $2,314,514
- Missouri - $3,062,478
- Montana - $1,824,916
- Nebraska - $2,032,086
- Nevada - $2,248,485
- New Hampshire - $1,905,874
- New Jersey - $3,756,315
- New Mexico - $2,089,722
- New York - $6,376,788
- North Carolina - $3,940,380
- North Dakota - $1,746,491
- Ohio - $4,435,706
- Oklahoma - $2,508,596
- Oregon - 2,528,331
- Pennsylvania - $4,724,303
- Rhode Island - $1,840,549
- South Carolina - $2,724,946
- South Dakota - $1,781,539
- Tennessee - $3,150,893
- Texas - $7,804,444
- Utah - $2,264,162
- Vermont - $1,734,894
- Virginia - $3,560,546
- Washington - $3,244,569
- West Virginia - $2,038,684
- Wisconsin - $2,987,737
- Wyoming - $1,719,518
- Puerto Rico - $922,269
- Guam - $44,771
- Virgin Islands - $27,167
Improving child nutrition is the focal point of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act signed by President Obama in December 2010. The legislation authorizes USDA's child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Summer Food Service Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. The Act allows USDA, for the first time in over 30 years, the chance to make real reforms to the school lunch and breakfast programs by improving the critical nutrition and hunger safety net for millions of children, and help a new generation win the future by having healthier lives. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is the legislative centerpiece of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! Initiative to end childhood obesity in a generation.
USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs, including the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, that touch the lives of one in four Americans over the course of a year. These programs work in concert to form a national safety net against hunger.