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USDA Foods to Support Farm to School

Jenna Segal, MPH

Midwest Farm to School Regional Lead

Office of Community Food Systems, USDA-FNS

Farm to School

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Local Food

Food Education

What Types of Products?

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• Within a state

• Within a city or county

• Within a radius

• Within a region

Defining Local

Definition may change

depending on:

• Season

• Product

• Special events

School Garden

Producer Co-op/ Farmers’

Market/ Food Hub

Individual Producer

Direct Purchases

Local Food in Schools

Indirect PurchasesUSDA Foods & USDA DoD Fresh

Program Distributor

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✓100%

American-

Grown

What Types of Products Does USDA Buy?

• Over 200 foods!

• Poultry and Livestock – turkey, beef, pork, catfish

• Fruits – fresh, dried, canned, frozen

• Vegetables – fresh, canned, frozen

• Grains – rice, pasta, flour, oatmeal

• Cheese, peanut butter, eggs

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Who Buys the Food?

• Food and Nutrition Service

• Oversight, administration, work with state agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

• Develops specifications and purchases products

• Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency (USDA DoD Fresh)

• Contracts with produce distributors across the country

Four ways USDA Foods support local

purchases1. Maximizes funds for local purchases

2. Champions American agriculture

3. Supports local processors

4. Promotes local fruit and vegetable

producers through USDA DoD Fresh

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• By using USDA Foods products, schools can save cash reimbursement dollars for local purchases.

• For example:

• Combine local lettuce with USDA Foods whole grain tortillas and USDA Foods smoked deli turkey breast to create wraps.

• Mix USDA Foods flour with local flour to bake rolls.

Maximize Funds for Local Purchases

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NSLP Per-Lunch

Reimbursement Rates

Paid: $0.37

Reduced Price: $2.89

Free: $3.25

Nationwide Eligibility

Paid: 27%

Reduced Price: 6%

Free: 67%

Cash Reimbursements & Student Payments USDA

FoodsUSDA DoD Fresh

Maximizing the Dollar

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“USDA is a partner in meeting my local purchasing goals. I often shift my entitlement to products that are not available locally and to products, like the roast chicken, that USDA Foods is able to offer at a lower price point than I could get as an individual school district.”

- Andrea Early, Director of School Nutrition,

Harrisonburg City Public Schools, VA

Whole,

unprocessed

product

New Recipe

USDA Foods

New Product

Local Swap

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• USDA Foods are 100% American grown!

• Some products are traditionally purchased from the same states each year.

• Find out what is purchased from your region.

• State of origin information

• Become a USDA Foods vendor

Champions American Agriculture

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Becoming a USDA Foods vendor

www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/becoming-

approved

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Maximize Local & Regional Purchases

USDA Foods by Region

Southwest

Rice

Beans

Peanut Butter

Beef

Mid Atlantic

Corn

Pasta

Beans

Chicken

MidwestApplesCherriesBeefBeansCarrotsCheeseGreen Beans

SoutheastChickenPeanut ButterCatfishTurkeyRiceFlour

Mountain Plains

Beans

Beef

Flour

Pasta

Pork

Northeast

Flour

Corn

Green beans

Western

Pollock

Cheese

Apricots

Peaches

Tomatoes

Pears

Potatoes

State of Origin Report: https://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/food-purchase-resources

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Champions Regional Agriculture

• Figure out which USDA Foods are already coming from your region, and highlight those.

• When ordering USDA Foods, think about which ones could

come from your region.

Guidance & Promotion

From Vermont Agency of Education

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• Most states send a portion of their USDA Foods to processors to be turned into end products like burritos, sandwiches or rice bowls.

• Schools must access the Illinois Commodity System (ICS) to place their USDA Foods order for the following school year.

• Check to see if your state has agreements with processors located close to home or work with your district and state agency to procure the services of a local processor.

Supports Local Processors

3

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Supports Local Processors (Vermont Example)

• In-State Processors

• Pastabilities

• Local company making pizza with USDA

Foods Mozzarella Cheese.

• Vermont Bean Crafters

• Mixing USDA Foods canned beans with

local carrots, onions, kale & other products

to make bean burgers.

• Nationally Approved Processors from the State or Region

• Any local examples you’re using?

• The USDA DoD Fresh program allows schools to use their USDA Foods entitlement dollars to buy fresh, and often local, produce.

• DoD contracts with 47 produce distributors across the country, who are encouraged to provide local produce whenever possible and identify locally-sourced items in the ordering catalog.

Promotes Local Fruit and Vegetable Producers through USDA DoD Fresh

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Local Produce through USDA DoD Fresh

• Vendors are encouraged to connect with local producers

• Most already do!

• Many state agencies and other stakeholders help make connections.

• Local produce must be within a reasonable price range of national averages.

***LOCAL GROWN***

Ordering Local in FFAVORS

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USDA DoD Fresh

• Vendor can provide more information about which farms or towns the local products come from in the “News Flash” section of FFAVORS.

Getting More Local DoD Fresh Options

• DoD only allows local produce to be listed if it falls within the same price range as nationally sourced domestic produce.

• Schools and State Agencies can ask DoD to add specific products to their catalogs.

• If your vendor is already supplying local produce for their commercial customers, find out what those products are, and ask DoD to add them to your USDA DoD Fresh Catalog.

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Statewide Promotion

• Raise awareness and speak to the advantages of participation

• Assist participants with identifying local, seasonal products

• Identify USDA-developed recipes that include local, seasonal products

• Help interested parties engage in other farm to school activities

• Provide training and technical assistance related to all farm to school activities

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State Resources• State Departments of Education

• State Departments of Agriculture

• State Farm to School Coordinators

Farm to School Resources

• USDA Farm to School Website and E-Letter (at www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool)

• USDA Farm to School Grant Program

• Farm to School Census

• Farm to School Regional Leads

WRO

MPRO

SWRO

MWRO

SERO

NERO

MARO

National Officev

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Questions?Jenna.segal@fns.usda.gov