USDA Foods: Maximizing Your Financial Resources

Julie Skolmowski, MPH, RD, SNS Branch Chief, Program Support Food Distribution Division USDA Food and Nutrition Service

USDA Foods = Real Money

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SY14-15 effective entitlement rate is $.30/meal The value equates to 15-20% of total food costs Competitive purchasing process Achieves economies of scale through nationwide purchase volume

Benefits of USDA Foods

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Healthy Choices- fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and cheese, nuts/seeds, oils

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Options provide flexibility to schools

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100% American grown/processed/packaged

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Stringent food safety, quality, nutrition standards

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School districts select items they want from available options using entitlement dollars

USDA Foods Product Options

Direct Delivered Bulk for Processing DoD Fresh Fruits & Vegetables

USDA Foods Available List

How are ordering decisions made?

USDA State School District

USDA Foods are a Good Value Southwest Chicken Rice Bowl Ingredient

Rice, brown, dry Corn, canned Tomatoes, canned, diced Pinto Beans, canned Whole wheat tortillas Chicken, Fajita strips, Reduced Fat Cheddar Spices Total Cost per entrée

100 svg

10.6 lbs 14.2 lbs 2 #10 2 #10 5 lb 12.5 lbs 1.5 lbs various

Commercial Price/ingredient

$4.52

$11.79

$8.60

$7.92

$19.86

$75.56

$3.55

$2.73

$134.53

$1.35

USDA Food Value/ + dist costs

$4.08

$8.19

$7.41

$5.26

$15.06

$27.37

$ 2.98

$2.73

$73.08

$0.74

USDA Foods Ordering Decisions Analyze purchasing needs:

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Calculate annual usage Production Records Distributor Velocity/Usage Reports

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Cost analysis Compare Bid Prices with USDA Food Value Add in (processing), distribution & administrative costs

USDA Foods Ordering Decisions Schools should also consider:

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Menu plan

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Student acceptability

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Nutrient profiles

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USDA Foods inventory levels Food safety

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Storage capacity

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USDA Foods Cost Analysis Tool

USDA Foods Cost Analysis Tool http://www.fns.usda.gov/usda-foods/usda-foods-toolkit

USDA Foods: We’re Listening!

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Do you have concerns, ideas, suggestions, or success stories to share about USDA Foods products?

Let us know: [email protected]

Commercial Vendor USDA Foods

Photos Courtesy of Santa Gertrudis ISD, Kingsville, TX

Questions?