Nutrition Program Bulletin – Week of March 24, 2025
Each section contains updates relevant to those nutrition programs. You can jump to the section you're interested in by clicking the link.
Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Federal Feedback Portal
MDE launched a public feedback portal on the homepage of our website. In the face of increasingly unpredictable federal actions and cuts, MDE will collect and amplify Minnesotans’ stories as we continue to advocate for the stability, resources and policies schools need to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed. Please use this portal to contribute stories.
Voting Memo Rescission
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USDA Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Participants
Non-Domestic Produce in USDA DoD Fresh Program
USDA DoD Fresh Program participants are reminded to reject all non-domestic produce they may receive, set the produce aside and promptly notify AJ Wholesale, the contracted vendor for Minnesota. Once notified, the vendor will pick up the non-domestic produce, replace the produce or credit the sponsor’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Order Receipt System (FFAVORS) account. All produce items supplied to schools in USDA’s DoD Fresh program must be grown domestically.
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- If a school’s Identified Student Percentage (ISP) is ≥ (greater than or equal to) 62.5%, the school must participate in CEP in order to participate in the Minnesota Free School Meals Program.
- If a school’s ISP is < (less than) 62.5%, the school is not required to participate in CEP. However, the school must participate in the Minnesota Free School Meals Program.
Correction: Updates to the School Standards
See bolded text below for corrections made to message from the previous bulletin.
The following USDA Final Rule changes take effect July 1, 2025. Make plans now to implement these changes for next school year:
- Breakfast cereals must contain no more than 6 grams of added sugars per ounce.
- Yogurt must contain no more than 12 grams of added sugar per 6 ounces (2 grams of added sugar per ounce).
- Flavored milk must contain no more than 10 grams of added sugars per 8 fluid ounces.
- The SNP Afterschool Snack Program meal pattern will be aligned with the Child and Adult Food Care Program (CACFP) snack meal pattern requirements and:
- No more than 50% of the weekly fruit/veg offered per week can be in the form of juice.
- At least 80% of the weekly grains offered must be whole grain rich.
- In addition to current licensed medical professionals, registered dietitians who have an established professional-patient relationship with the individual requesting the accommodation may sign special diet statements.
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Additional Buy American requirements take effect. Additional information was in the February 10, 2025, Nutrition Program Bulletin.
The following changes already took effect or were clarified as of July 1, 2024 and will not change in School Year 25–26:
- 80% of the grains offered at breakfast and lunch must be whole grain rich.
- Sodium levels remain at Target 1A.
- At breakfast, grains and meat/meat alternates are in a combined category.
- A substitution of vegetables for fruit at breakfast may come from any vegetable subgroups for the first time offered in a week. Any additional times that vegetables are offered per week must come from at least two different subgroups.
- Nuts and seeds may credit for the full meat/meat alternate component.
- Beans, peas or lentils offered as a meat/meat alternate at lunch can also count toward the weekly vegetable subgroup requirement, but not the daily vegetable portion requirement.
- Plain potable water must be available in the places that lunch is served and at breakfast if served in the cafeteria.
Minnesota Cream of the Crop Award
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering the 2025 Cream of the Crop Awards for Farm to School and Early Care. Formerly the Farm to School District of the Year Awards, this year’s contest is expanding to recognize K-12 schools, early care centers and family day cares that are going above and beyond to serve and promote local foods. Applications are open until April 11, 2025.
Say Yes! to School Meals Photo Contest Results
Thank you to all the schools that participated in the second annual Say Yes! to School Meals Photo Contest last month. Congratulations to the winning schools:
- Intermediate District 287
Submit Completed Request for Proposals (RFP) and Invitation for Bids (IFB) to MDE
School Food Authorities out for bid to procure services with a vended meal provider or Food Service Management Company (FSMC) in 2025 for the 2025-2026 school year should submit the completed RFPs and IFBs by April 15, 2025 to MDE.FSMC@state.mn.us to ensure adequate processing time. Documents should include the 21-day cycle menu, three months of The Cyber-Linked Interactive Child Nutrition System (CLiCs) claims, and a completed labor and fringe worksheet. Refer to the School Nutrition Procurement webpage for resources.
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