2026 USDA Foods: Background, Utilization, and Strategy

Description

CLASS INSTRUCTOR: Nicole Moorhead

Course Objectives:

• Understand the background of the USDA Commodity program
• Understand how the program is funded, how IDOE receives and disperses those funds
• What are the options available that utilize USDA funds and what happens to the dollars that are not used?
• Understand how the money flows with each of the 3 options (Brown Box, Processed Commodities, and DoD Fresh)
• Learn how Indiana determines which Brown Box items to offer, what the specifications of those items are, and how the state distributes and pays for these commodities
• Understand what happens if there is a surplus of Brown Box commodities
• Understand Processed Commodities (direct diversion), what USDA and the state of Indiana require of the manufacturers, how the manufacturer receives the pounds diverted, and how those pounds get back to the school district 
• Understand how the DoD Fresh program works, how it is administered and distributed, and the process to send entitlement to this program
• Understand the Indiana survey on commodities, its timeline, how the information is used, and methods and shortcuts to complete
• Learn how to determine the cost-effectiveness of each of the types of commodities and how to get the most bang for your buck
• Understand the distributor’s role in NOI processing and how that impacts your choice of available products
• Understand tools like K12 and Processor Link that can help you manage your commodity drawdown

• Determine what percent of your food budget is entitlement dollars, and understand different strategies to maximize your utilization while minimizing the time required