USDA Foods in Schools Program
The USDA Foods Program supports domestic nutrition programs and American agricultural producers through purchases of 100% American-grown and -produced foods for use by schools and institutions participating in the federal Child Nutrition Programs.
The USDA Foods in Schools Program provides three options for obtaining nutritious foods for schools to use in their school nutrition programs, Direct Delivery, DoD Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, and Processing Diversion. Operators of the National School Lunch Program who would like to participate in the program can email [email protected]. ADE provides the CNP MyFoods system for managing USDA Foods entitlement within ADEConnect.
Planned Assistance Level (PAL)
USDA issues entitlement, calculated by the number of reimbursable lunches served during the previous year (July 1–June 30) multiplied by the current per-meal rate, for use in three available options. The per-meal rate for USDA Foods is established annually, in July, by the United States Congress.
Available Options
USDA Foods for Direct Delivery is a finished food product that is shipped directly to a school’s warehouse or state contracted warehouse. Benefits of using direct delivery include the products meet the meal pattern, provides foods for scratch and speed scratch cooking, and is essentially free.
USDA Foods for the DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (DoD Fresh) allows schools to use USDA Foods entitlement dollars to buy fresh produce. USDA DoD Fresh operates through a partnership between the USDA and the DoD Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) utilizing the FFAVORS System.
USDA Foods for Processing Diversion converts bulk USDA Foods into more convenient, ready-to-use end products. Benefits of using further processing include increasing food safety, reducing labor costs and stretching entitlement dollars.
Catalog Requisitions
The USDA Foods Program offers several options to utilize entitlement dollars to support nutritious school meals in Arizona and uphold the nutrition integrity of Child Nutrition Programs. These options include the Direct Delivery option (previously referred to as Brown Box commodities), which offers approved USDA dry, refrigerated, and frozen materials; the Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (DoD Fresh), which offers local and American-grown produce; and processed foods, including nutritious end products from raw, bulk material that is diverted to manufacturers. These options may be used across Child Nutrition Programs, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Afterschool Snack Program, At-Risk Supper Program, and the Summer Food Service Program, if all income accrues to the nonprofit school food service account.
Recipient Agencies (RAs) are responsible for assuring that all food resources are used properly. Misuse of USDA Foods is subject to criminal prosecution under Section 12(g) of the National School Lunch Act.
RAs receive food based on the submission of the catalog requisitions in Arizona’s online ordering system, myFOODS. If your school did not submit a requisition during the catalog requisition process, you may utilize the Surplus Catalog in the myFOODS ordering system.
For more information, please view the following training:
Annually, CACFP operators are surveyed for interest in either receiving entitlement funds allocated toward USDA Foods or Cash in Lieu of Commodities (CIL). CIL is an additional ~ 30.50 cents for SY 2026 added to the reimbursement amount for each lunch and supper meal claimed. This is actual funding that is added to the monthly reimbursements with no additional requirements. Based on the survey results, operators will receive CIL for Program Year 2026 (October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026). Operators will be surveyed again for the following program year later this spring.
School Food Authorities approved to operate the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) or Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) may use the remaining USDA Foods in Schools entitlement and donated foods allocated for NSLP that school year for their summer meal operations.
Community Organizations (CO) approved to operate the SFSP can request to participate in USDA Foods by contacting ADE at [email protected]. COs will be provided entitlement to order fresh produce through the USDA Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.
Resources from USDA:
USDA Foods in Schools Factsheet
USDA Foods Toolkit for Child Nutrition Programs
Resources from ADE HNS:
USDA Foods in Schools Program: myFOODS Systems Manual
School Nutrition Program Manual
FFAVORS Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Order Receipt Manual
FFAVORS FAQ & Tips Guide
USDA Foods Available Material List for SY 2026-2027
USDA Foods Direct Delivery Arizona List [coming soon]
USDA Value of Donated Foods Notices
Processing USDA Foods for Schools
The processing of USDA Foods allows schools to send raw bulk foods to approved processors. Schools have reported that the ability to send certain USDA Foods to processors, allows them to offer a wider range of menu items that cater to student preferences, enhances the variety of food choices, reduces waste, and helps stabilize food costs through portion control.
Processor Approval and Requirements
Processors must be approved by the USDA and the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), meeting specific requirements. Processors are regularly reviewed by the USDA.
Processors are required to have an approved State Participation Agreement (SPA) on file with the ADE in order to participate in the program. The SPA includes Summary End Product Data Schedule (SEPDS) which includes the list of approved end products and amount of USDA Foods materials used for each case.
Resources for Operators
USDA Foods Administrative Fee Structure
