USDA Foods

National School Lunch Program participants that opt to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foods program may receive approximately 15-20 percent additional support in the form of USDA Foods that can be used in the preparation of student meals. The value received in USDA Foods is based on the number of meals served during the previous school year.

Program Eligibility

To be eligible to receive USDA Foods, schools must be approved by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) for participation in the National School Lunch Program.

Private, nonprofit and charter schools in Florida interested in participating in the National School Lunch Program should contact FDACS for information about the program and to file a National School Lunch Program application.  

Agreeing to Receive USDA Foods

Once approved for the National School Lunch Program by FDACS, the school can choose to receive USDA Foods. The USDA Foods entitlement is based on the average daily number of lunches served by the school. USDA Foods are ordered and allocated in the spring for the following school year. Therefore, a school must have an agreement with FDACS by that time to fully benefit from the USDA Foods program.

Requisitioning USDA Foods

The variety of USDA Foods that schools can get from the USDA depends on quantities available and market conditions. Starting in the spring, USDA offers USDA Foods for the schools to choose from and requisition for the upcoming school year.

Schools place their requisitions using the USDA’s Web-Based Supply Chain Management System. Based on those requisitions, FDACS staff places the orders with the USDA on behalf of the schools.

POINT System

Starting in 2020, schools participating in the USDA Foods program will be required to place their orders in the POINT System instead of the Web-Based Supply Chain Management System.

The POINT System allows users to accurately forecast student participation, develop menus, create a cycle for those menus and project food items needed for the entire school year. The POINT System provides modules that will lead to improvements in program efficiency and a reduction in food costs.

Besides the USDA Foods requirement, all other use of the POINT System is voluntary.

Sign Up to Use the POINT System.

Delivery

Depending on the quantities requested, schools can choose to have their USDA Foods delivered to their own warehouse, a privately contracted warehouse or a state-contracted warehouse. In the case of some bulk items, USDA Foods may be diverted to a processor to be made into a more user-friendly or acceptable product.

USDA Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Program

USDA and the DoD’s Defense Logistics Agency, which supplies fresh fruits and vegetables to the military, have partnered to increase availability of fresh produce to agencies participating in the USDA Foods Program through the National School Lunch Program. Participating agencies must allocate a portion of their USDA entitlement during the annual ordering period. Ordering and distribution of allocated entitlement dollars are coordinated through the DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Ordering System (FFAVORS).