The Emergency Food Assistance Program

TEFAP distributes about half a billion dollars in USDA Foods each year through food banks across the country.

TEFAP distributes about half a billion dollars in USDA Foods each year through food banks across the country.

Strengthening the Nation’s Nutrition Safety Net and Supporting American Agriculture

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. USDA provides 100% American-grown USDA Foods and administrative funds to states to operate TEFAP.

Program Fact Sheet
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What's New?

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Food Distribution Program Tables
Data
Notice to Stakeholders: New Rule to Enhance Customer Service and Link Farms to Food Banks in TEFAP
News Item
Final Rule: TEFAP Implementation of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
Rule
USDA Foods Expected to be Available
Product Information
Refresher on FNS Instruction 709-5: Shipment and Receipt of USDA Foods
Webinars/Videos
USDA Foods E-Letters
Newsletters
Best Practices to Minimize Food Waste
Policy Memos
Comment Request - Food Programs Reporting System
Notice
Comment Request - Food Distribution Programs
Notice
TEFAP - Information on the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Act
Policy Memos
Perdue Enlists American Innovators to Advance Self-Sufficiency
News Item
Farm Bill Changes to TEFAP State Plan Requirements and Food Funding Formula
Policy Memos
Total TEFAP Assistance to States in FY 2018
Technical Assistance & Guidance
TEFAP: Availability of Foods for Fiscal Year 2019
Notice
FNS-101: The Emergency Food Assistance Program
Fact Sheets
Shipment and Receipt of USDA Foods (FNS Instruction 709-5)
Policy Memos

Spotlights

tefap foods

Best Practices to Minimize Food Waste

This memorandum implements requirements under Section 4018 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and provides guidance to TEFAP state agencies on best practices to minimize food waste of privately donated foods provided to TEFAP state agencies and eligible recipient agencies. 

TEFAP - Information on the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Act
Household Programs USDA Foods Product Information Sheets and Recipes
FY 2019 TEFAP Funding Memo
Total TEFAP Assistance to States in FY 2018
Percentage of TEFAP Administrative Funds Passed Through from State Agencies to Emergency Feeding Organizations in FY 2017