The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is making funding available in Federal Fiscal Year 2022 for supply chain assistance. This funding is in response to the challenges in purchasing and receiving food that districts are experiencing in School Year 2021-22. Many districts are experiencing challenges in purchasing and receiving food through their normal distribution channels. As a result, school meals are being impacted resulting unavailability of popular food items and price fluctuations.
To assist districts with supply chain disruptions, the Food and Nutrition Service will provide Montana districts up to $5,159,810 in relief funding. This funding will enhance efforts to strengthen local food supply chains, and help districts to overcome financial and operational barriers while maintaining children’s access to nutritious meals.
The Office of Public Instruction will distribute funds to participating districts to help defray the costs of unanticipated cancellation of food contracts, reduced availability of foods, unexpected substitution of products, and unpredictable increases in food prices. The funds will support direct purchasing of domestically grown, unprocessed or minimally processed food products by districts to address immediate supply chain disruption barriers. More information will be provided soon.
Please contact Christine Emerson at 406-444-2502 or cemerson@mt.gov with questions.
The USDA Foods Annual Survey will take place February 1st -25th.
The Annual Survey is often called the “Order” because this is where USDA Foods and USDA DOD Fresh requests are made for the upcoming school year. In February of 2022 we will be planning for the entire 2022-2023 school year. The person listed in the MAPS Food Distribution Program Contract Packet as the Food Distribution Program Ordering Contact will receive email communication about the survey, and is responsible for submitting the survey response. For assistance or questions, please contact Pam Fruh at pamela.fruh@mt.gov or 406-444-4412.
Low-Fat (1%) Flavored Milk – Congressional Flexibility Extended through February 18, 2022
Low-Fat (1%) Flavored Milk – Congressional Flexibility Extended through February 18, 2022
In Section 789, of Division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Congress provided that none of the funds made available by the Appropriations Act or any other act may be used to restrict the offering of low-fat (1% fat) flavored milk in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) as long as such milk is not inconsistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines. Due to recent Congressional action, this flexibility allowing low-fat, flavored milk in the NSLP and SBP is now effective through February 18, 2022. This provides additional flexibility in planning school breakfast and lunch menus; but, does not require schools to make any menu changes.
Also in the Appropriations Act, Congress provided that funds made available by the Appropriations Act cannot be used to procure raw or processed poultry products imported into the United States from the People’s Republic of China for use in the child nutrition programs. This prohibition is also extended through February 18, 2022.
For more information, please see this policy memo: Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021: Effect on Child Nutrition Programs – REVISED [gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com]. Please note, while the expiration date for these provisions is listed as September 30, 2021, in the memo, they have bothbeen extended to February 18, 2022. FNS will provide additional guidance if these provisions are further extended. As stated in the memo, flexibility related to paid lunch equity and serving potatoes and other starchy vegetables in the SBP remains in effect through school year 2021-2022.
USDA is committed to providing nutrition assistance to hard-hit families across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. In support of President Biden’s call to action on hunger, USDA announced that it is increasing the Pandemic EBT benefit by approximately 15 percent, providing more money for low-income families and millions of children missing meals due to school and child care closures.
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
