USDA FoodsUpdateTim WalshActing Branch ChiefCommunity Nutrition Programs USDA FNS MARO

FNS OverviewUSDA Foods - Year in ReviewMeeting the New RequirementsProvision 242 UpdateNew Tools for Schools

USDA Foods Topics:

• USDA Foods Final QT 480p 16x9 - YouTube

But first – a short video

Vision

To lead America in ending hunger and improving nutrition and health.

Mission Statement

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) increases food security and reduces hunger in partnership with cooperating organizations by providing children and needy families access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education in a manner that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence.

USDA Food & Nutrition Service

USDA Food & Nutrition Service

•Seven Regional Offices and HQ

•15 Nutrition Assistance Programs

•Budget - $109.1 Billion (proposed)– FY13*

•Programs Serve 1 in 4 Americans-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

47.5 million Individuals/month (October 2012)

-National School Lunch Program31.7 million students in ~101,000 schools daily

*Source: www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42596.pdf

FNS Regional Offices

• Regional offices work with their state and community partners to increase food security and reduce hunger by providing those in need with access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education.

FNS Regional Offices

FNS Programs That Utilize USDA Foods

•National School Lunch Program

•School Breakfast Program

•Child and Adult Care Food Program

•Summer Food Service Program

•Food Distribution Program on Indian

Reservations

FNS Programs That Utilize USDA Foods

•Emergency Food Assistance Program

(TEFAP)

•Commodity Supplemental Food Program

•Nutrition Services Incentive Program

•Processing

•Charitable Institutions

•Disaster Feeding and Situations of Distress

FY 12 - USDA purchased 1.1 billion lbs of foods valued at over $1.4 billion

FY 12 – NJ NSLP – 31.2 million pounds of food valued at $32.1 million

USDA Foods: NSLP Year in Review

USDA Foods Help Schools Meet New Requirements:• Makes up approximately 15 to 20 percent of the food servedin each school lunch.• Provides a variety of healthy food choices, including fruits,vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, dairy, and grains.• Includes a selection of more than 180 nutritious food items—fresh, frozen, packaged, canned, dried, and bulk.• Meets rigorous food safety standards set by Federalregulatory agencies and USDA’s two purchasing agencies –the Agricultural Marketing Service and the Farm Service Agency.

USDA Foods Help Schools Meet New Requirements:

FruitsCanned-extra light syrup Frozen: developed new specification that decreases the amount of added sugars

Vegetables: ≤ 140 mg per ½ cup serving and no salt added productsCanned and dried beansExploring dark green and orange vegetables

• Apricots, Whole/Diced

• Fruit Mix

• Peaches, Sliced/Diced

• Pears, Sliced/Diced/Halves

• Apple Slices – Unsweetened Canned/Frozen

• Applesauce – Unsweetened

• Fresh Fruits – Apples, Oranges and Pears

• Blueberries, Unsweetened

• Strawberries, Unsweetened

• Dried Fruits (Variety)

•¼ cup = ½ cup • New Specs for Frozen

Fruit

•Less added sugars•Waiver for SY12/13 and

SY13/14

USDA Foods Available Extra Light/Unsweetened Fruits

Red–Orange•Tomato Products – Whole, Diced, Sauce, Paste•Sweet Potatoes – Canned, Fresh, Frozen, Bulk•Carrots – Frozen, Fresh Baby Carrots

Dark Green •Frozen Broccoli Florets are available in FY13 (5

lb bags). Spinach is also being considered.

USDA Foods Available Vegetables

Legumes•Variety of canned and dry Low sodium (140 mg/serving)

Starchy Vegetables•Reduced sodium, fat-free potato wedges, canned &

frozen peas, corn, and fresh potatoes

Other •Green Beans

USDA Foods Available Vegetables

USDA Foods Help Schools Meet New Requirements:

Fresh Cut Program ExpansionBaby CarrotsSliced Apples

Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

USDA Foods Help Schools Meet New Requirements:

Whole grains: meet >50% requirement-Pastas -Brown Rice-Tortillas-Whole wheat flour-Whole Kernel Corn for

processingExploring other whole grains like white whole wheat flour products

USDA Foods Help Schools Meet New Requirements:

Reducing Sodium: All canned vegetables/tomatoes

Most meats and cheese productsReducing Total Fat/Saturated Fats

Lean meats/poultry/fishReduced fat cheeses

Eliminate Trans fats: purchase only zero trans fat products

USDA Foods Help Schools Meet New Requirements:FNS is researching new products to help schools meet the new meal pattern requirements. We are considering: • Bulk Pinto Beans for processing • 1 oz. Low-sodium Cheese Stick • Bulk Romaine Lettuce for processing

We want your feedback and ideas about these products and any others you’d like us to consider. Email us at: USDAFoods@fns.usda.gov.

Examine SFAs’ access to accurate nutrition information for commercial products and USDA Foods; FoodConnect.gov

Explore ways for schools to create high quality specification for bids: www.interflex.net

Provide recommendations for policy and funding to effect change to Congress

HHFKA Section 242 Update

• The USDA Food Connect website provides a one-stop information and communication resource for schools, other procurement groups, and the companies that supply them.

• The web site allows food service professionals to search for, and identify, value-added food products produced from a variety of agricultural foods, the companies that offer the products, brokers that represent those companies, and distributors that have passed a warehouse sanitation review.

FoodConnect.usda.gov

www.fns.usda.gov/USDAFoodsUSDA Foods Toolkit UpdatedAdditional Bid Tools coming soon!

USDA Foods Tools for Schools

Questions/Information:•Contact your state agency•Visit www.fns.usda.gov

USDA Foods