Schools rely on USDA Foods as an important resource for the National School Lunch Program. The provision of USDA Foods frees up funds that schools would otherwise have to use to purchase commercial food products. USDA Foods account for 15 to 20 percent of federal school lunch food expenditures.

This federal program is administered through IDOE for eligible institutions to receive entitlement dollars to purchase USDA Foods. These foods can be used within the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), School Breakfast Program (SBP) and After School Snack Program (ASSP). To learn more about FDP, please click: here.

Inventorying Your Product

It's the end of the school year. Do you know where your inventory is? School Food Authorities (SFAs) are owner and responsibility party for all USDA Foods onsite and offsite. Products not being utilized can result in removal from your account or the assessment of excess storage fees.

To manage inventory at the state assigned warehouses, check the CNPweb. To manage diverted product balances, check www.k12foodservice.com and www.processorlink.com.

If you are unsure if your school has USDA Foods or how to find them, please contact the Food Distribution Specialist at cmoore@doe.in.gov.

Updates and Reminders

E-Authentication can be completed for new SFAs once the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) enters schools into the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Order Receipt System (FFAVORS). This should be available sometime in July. Entitlement will also be assigned to the new schools once they are entered in FFAVORS by DLA.

For more information on the DoD timeline, please click here.

For information on FFAVORS and getting started with DoD, please review the Customer Ordering Manual, the IDOE DoD website, and inTEAM training.

Accessing in FFAVORS

To access FFAVORS or for information regarding the e-Authentication process, please click here.

Receipting in FFAVORS

• Please ensure that all SFAs receipt orders in FFAVORS within five days of delivery. This must be done so the vendors can be paid.

Adding Sites to FFAVORS

• New school sites must be sent to IDOE before Tuesday, June 1 in order to be added to the SFA's account in FFAVORS. If this date is missed, then the sites will be updated on the next available date which is before Sunday, August 1.
• Schools should contact IDOE to add sites to FFAVORS. Please do not contact the DLA representative or USDA to add new sites.
• Please allow one month for DLA to update FFAVORS.

T.A.P. Into Your Value

Use the recommendations below to TAP into your value!

Task – Utilize tools such as the checklists, toolkit, and spreadsheets available to effectively manage inventory. These tools can be found on the IDOE Food Distribution Program website at https://www.doe.in.gov/nutrition/usda-foods-distribution-program.

Agenda – Ask questions if you do not understand something or need clarification, use your calendar and reminders to keep up with important dates and make a list of all the potential activities that need to be completed during the school year.

Product - Print the annual pre-order survey for your school for each month. This will ensure that you know the quantity of USDA Foods and the expected month they will be delivered to the state assigned warehouse. Also, visit the USDA Foods tracking websites, K12 Foodservice (www.k12foodservice.com) and ProcessorLink (www.processorlink.com) and print out the list of processor information in order to order and incorporate these items into your school menus.

It's a good idea to evaluate/re-evaluate your inventory needs throughout the school year. This should be done regularly. It is essential to your success in the Food Distribution Program.

Consider:

• Do you have too many processors/vendors? Can you get better pricing, service, etc. from fewer vendors? Do you have processors making duplicate items?
• Are you using the items at the processors?
• Are you receiving the discounts and credits your school is entitled?
• Did you compare prices?
  
• Do you check your processing balances regularly?

Although the list does not end here, it is good start and now is the time. Take a fresh look today.

This section provides inspiration for recipes using USDA Foods. If you have recipe ideas, please share them with email Cheryl Moore at cmoore@doe.in.gov.

Find the recipes below and other recipes here.

USDA Foods has policies. Check them out. These policies and other USDA Foods information and resources can be found at https://www.doe.in.gov/nutrition/usda-foods-distribution-program.

Click here to check out our upcoming trainings.

2021 State of Indiana Holidays

Independence Day, Monday, July 5

Labor Day, Monday, September 6

**State Offices are closed in observance of the above holidays.

For the full list of state holidays click here.

USDA Foods Distribution Program (IDOE website)

USDA Food Programs

American Commodity Distribution Program (ACDA) RA Processing Handbook

Cheryl Moore, FDP Specialist (Brown Box, Annual Pre-Order Survey, SFSP USDA Foods, USDA DoD Fresh Program)

Email: cmoore@doe.in.gov

Phone: 317-234-2516

Linda Smith, FDP Specialist (Raw/Bulk Products/Pounds)

Email: lrsmith@doe.in.gov

Phone: 317-232-0859