🥗Foods Updates
📦December Orders
The December orders are now closed. Schools may log in to ND Foods to view their orders.
🚚Delivery Shortages and Product Updates
Ground Beef
Ground beef was removed from the December orders.
- The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) was unable to purchase 2,000 cases of ground beef due to no vendor responses to bids. This resulted in a temporary interruption in ground beef shipments. AMS is re-soliciting bids for delivery by Jan. 15, 2025. If a contract is awarded, schools will receive ground beef with their February orders.
- Due to the recent federal shutdown and lapse in appropriations, foods that were not in “purchased” status were not procured because funds were unavailable. NDDPI will provide an update as soon as AMS confirms whether ground beef will be purchased.
- One truck (912 cases) of ground beef is scheduled to arrive at the Booth warehouse in mid-December. These cases will be used to fulfill January orders.
A separate ground beef food survey will be issued and combined with the January order.
Apple Slices
AMS was unable to purchase apple slices for October delivery. They are attempting to secure trucks for the January–March 2026 quarter. If successful, deliveries will arrive by Jan. 31, 2026, and products will be included on the March surveys.
Dried Cranberries
Schools that ordered dried cranberries on their annual food survey for November, December, and January will receive product. Shipments for March and April will be shorted.
Land O’Lakes
No product was ordered for January due to the state being unable to meet minimum shipping requirements. A temporary hold on #59703 Light String Cheese. #59701 Mozzarella String Cheese will be available as the alternate option.
Tyson
A total of 133 cases of corndogs were shorted on the December orders. These cases were added to the States December delivery for the January orders. Schools interested in adding corndog to their January orders may email Tara Koster with the number of cases requested.
Pilgrims
33 cases of #665400 chicken patties were shorted.
Schwan’s
All turkey pepperoni stuffed sandwiches were shorted.
📊 Food Availability
Refer to The Food Availability Sheet for the 2025–2026 school year USDA Foods list.
If an item from a school’s survey was not purchased, processed or surplus foods may be substituted. Schools are expected to adhere to the quantities specified in
📢 Schools are reminded to order only the foods included on their annual survey. If a food item is requested that was not included on your annual survey and there is no excess product available in the warehouse, your order may be reduced. This may make it more difficult to fully utilize entitlement dollars.
🥕USDA DoD Fresh
Schools should continue to monitor their entitlement balances in FFAVORS.
DoD Best Practices
- Place orders that meet a minimum of $105.
- Inspect produce at the time of the delivery and reject non-domestic produce.
- Report any produce issues within 24 hours to receive credit.
- Receipt order in FFAVORS within two days.
- Monitor entitlement balance in FFAVORS.
- Email the State Agency, Cash-Wa, and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to report issues. Include photos when concerns relate to produce quality.
Contacts:
🚚USDA Food Orders
December orders are closed. Schools should review their orders in ND Foods. If needed, refer to the how to look up customer orders document.
Your school will receive an email from Booth Delivery two to three days before your delivery day. Please verify your route and delivery week here.
Best Practices:
- Conduct a full product and case count at the time of delivery.
- Note any shortages on the signature sheet.
- If shortages are discovered after the delivery, please report them to Tara Koster with in 24 hours.
📅Upcoming Food Survey Dates
➡️ February 2026 survey: open Nov. 24 through Dec. 9
➡️ March 2026 survey: open Jan. 2 through Jan. 11
All surveys close at 11 a.m. Central time on the closing date.
📃Net off Invoicing (NOI)
State/NOI Touchpoint Meetings
The touchpoint meetings are an opportunity to discuss anything related to the Net Off Invoice program. Attendance is optional.
Upcoming Meetings:
- Monday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. CST
- Monday, Feb. 9, at 2 p.m. CST
- Monday, April 6, at 2 p.m. CDT
📢 Tyson Corn Dog Recall
Schools that submitted their distribution forms will receive reimbursement for their associated processing fees in January 2026. A memo will be included with the payment.
Until then, schools should pay the processing fees listed on their October invoice as usual.
📞 Mid-Year USDA Foods in Schools Call.
The mid-year USDA Foods in Schools call will take place on Monday, Dec. 1, at 2 p.m. Central time. A Teams invitation and agenda will be sent later this month.
Topics will include the pre-annual food survey, annual food survey, the SCH renewal, the USDA Foods planning tool, and other program updates.
Representatives from the DoD Fresh Program will join at the beginning of the call to provide updates and address questions.
For all USDA Food Distribution inquiries, please contact:
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
- fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
- email: program.intake@usda.gov
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