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Inventory - School Year 2021-2022

As the school year ends, it is the time to do some warehouse, pantry, freezer & refrigerator cleaning. Check the dates of all USDA foods to ensure that the food carried over the summer will not be outdated or expired by the time the school year begins. If there are foods nearing their best if used by dates, please donate the food to a local food pantry and/or non-profit agency. If you donate foods please keep records of foods donated and quantities.

School Year 2022 -2023 Food Purchases

As Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) are going out for bids and making purchases, they are seeing shortfalls for:

• Canned Vegetables, Pasta, Apple Products, Juice, and Tomato Products

Price increases - Last purchase price compared to the previous purchase price

• Tomato Paste 107% increase
• Pasta 41% - 94% increase - depending on the type
• Lentils - 46% increase
• Orange Juice Singles 45% increase

The listed item were not purchased due to no bids for the July-September purchasing period. I will request that both products be moved to the next solicitation (Oct-Dec delivery periods) with a first-half October delivery request. If purchased the items will arrived at Booth by 10/15 - available on your November surveys.

• Apple Slices - 7/15/2022 delivery - 912 cases
• Tomato Sauce - 7/15/2022 delivery - 456 cases

Overall we continue to see:

• Transportation challenges - shortages, high prices, dependability, difficulty finding transportation for split truck deliveries
• Labor Shortages
• Everything is more expensive
• Competing with commercial market is difficult 

Bonus Foods - USDA Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC Funds)

ND was allocated $918,498 to purchase USDA Foods. The foods will be a 'bonus.' Bonus food do not deduct from entitlement funds. They will be available at the beginning of the school year – arriving at the warehouse in July through September 2022. The items coming into the warehouse first half of July (7/15/22) will be on the August survey. Items coming in on 7/31 (second half of July) & 8/15 (first half of August) will be on the September survey. Items coming in 9/15 (the first half of September) will be on the October survey.  

UPDATE: Due to the substantial orange juice shortfall the #110651 orange juice cups were not purchased. Unfortunately, AMS will not be bidding again as there is difficulty in obtaining raw product for the orange juice due to crop issues.

Mark your Calendars ✔

Contact Information

For all USDA School Food Distribution inquiries please contact:

Tara Koster - tkoster@nd.gov

NDDPI Child Nutrition and Food Distribution
Main Office:
600 E. Boulevard Ave, Dept 201
Bismarck, ND 58505
PHONE: 701-328-2294 or 888-338-3663
FAX: 701-328-9566
Email: dpicnfd@nd.gov

Non Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) E-mail: program.intake@usda.gov.