New/Experienced Director Training– Part One Understanding and Procuring USDA Foods
USDA Foods Program Supports the U.S. Agricultural Market Removes surplus inventories Protects national security
How does the USDA Foods Program Work? USDA provides entitlement dollars to schools to purchase USDA Foods –Brown Box –Bulk USDA Foods –Department of Defense Fruits and Vegetables
Entitlement Calculated based on Total Lunches Served Adjusted throughout the school year Pooled together for Private Coop members
Private Coop Members Private Coop Administration USDA FDP State FDP USDA Foods Request Process
USDA Foods Equal 15-20% of your total RAW food spend
USDA Foods vs. Commercial Purchase
Menu Analysis Your menu is the basis for all purchasing decisions
Cost Analysis Commercial vs. USDA Foods Fair Market Value
To Use or Not to Use?
How to Reduce Cost
The Procurement Process and Forecasting
State Food Shows (Oct-Dec) Develop Menus (Ongoing) Plan USDA Diversions (Jan-Feb) Districts Develop Bids (March-April) Response Period (April-May) Awards made (May-June) Board Approval (May-July) Contracts Begin (July-Aug) Change Diversions (If Possible) Distributors Receive Inventory (July-Aug) School Begins (July-Sept) Procurement and USDA Foods Diversion Timeline
Effective Use of USDA Foods 1.Develop Menus 2.Cost Analysis 3.Determine Brown Box vs. Processing 4.Develop Bid 5.Award 6.Monitor
Stephanie Ewing, RD, SNS Vice President Gold Star Foods x