Overview of School Food Programs
The School Food Programs administers the USDA Foods (formally the Commodity Food Program), Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), Farm to School and School Garden programs. The overarching goal is to provide access to nutritious foods that support the National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Summer Food Service Programs and other programs administered at schools. The USDA Foods Program distributes wholesome foods such as grains, fruits, vegetables and proteins to support school meals that meet USDA regulations. On an average day, USDA Foods make up about 20 percent of the product served in school meals. The DoD Fresh Program makes a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables accessible to schools to be incorporated into salad bars, recipes and the daily menu. Farm to School and School Garden Programs connect schools with local producers and educate students by bridging the gap from field to plate. The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is a nutrition education grant program that provides low income elementary schools with funds to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables that are served to students as snacks during the school day, but not during breakfast or lunch.
- Getting Started on Food Distribution
- What’s New
- Food Distribution Memos
- Food Distribution Documents and Forms
- The Facts on Monthly Verification
- The Facts on Surplus
- US Foods (formally US Foodservice) Contact Information
- USDA Foods Information
- Guidance Manuals & Training
- USDA Foods Processing
- Department of Defense Fresh Program
- Farm to School
- School Gardens
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
