📃ND Foods Allowance Notification
You may have received a message in ND Foods indicating that allowances have been created for School Year 2026–2027. No action is required. Allowances are created in ND Foods as part of our annual system setup to prepare for the upcoming school year.
- Allowances are SY 2026-2027 are placeholders using prior per-meal rates and total lunches served.
- These amounts will be updated once USDA releases the official federal per-meal rate.
- The allowance you see now may be lower than expected. This is not a final entitlement amount.
Entitlement is calculated using the total number of reimbursable lunches, multiplied by the USDA-established per-meal rate.
Additional information will be shared as updated become available.
⏰SCH Renewals
The SCH Renewal has been sent to the Authorized Representative for completion. If you are not the Authorized Representative for the SCH program, please review the information below and notify the appropriate administrator if any updates are needed.
SCH Renewal Requirements
Sponsor Information
- Review and update sponsor details.
- Verify individual contact information, including email addresses and phone numbers.
USDA Foods Representative
- Each school should have two USDA Foods Representatives listed.
- USDA Foods Representative information must be accurate, as these individuals receive all USDA Foods related correspondence.
Invoice Contacts
- Each school should have at least one invoice contact, two are strongly recommended. Accurate invoice contacts help prevent delays in processing and payments.
Site Information
- Verify site status:
- Server: Site serves meals but does not receive monthly USDA Foods deliveries.
- Server & Delivery: Site serves meals and received USDA Foods deliveries.
- Add new sites or discontinues sites. This is the only time of year sites can be updated.
Participation in the USDA DoD Fresh Program
(This refers to the USDA DoD Fresh Program, not the grant program)
Refer to the DoD Fresh information sheet for additional details.
- Coordinate with your Food Service Director to determine the appropriate allocation amount.
- Participation election. This is the only time of year election is available.
- If participating:
- Enter the amount of USDA Foods entitlement funds you wish to allocate to the program
- ND Foods will provide a suggested allocation per delivery site; this amount is a recommendation. Schools may allocate a different amount.
- Verify that one DoD representative is designated.
Once the renewal is submitted to NDDPI, all SCH renewals are reviewed. If any information appears questionable, or incomplete, the renewal may be returned, and NDDPI staff will follow up by phone or email.
SCH Renewal must be completed by close of business on January 26
📅Upcoming Food Survey Dates
➡️ March 2026 survey: open Jan. 2–11
➡️ April 2026 survey: open Jan. 21–Feb. 2
➡️ SY 2026-2027 Annual food survey: open Feb. 16–27
All surveys close at 11 a.m. Central time on the closing date.
📢 Training Announcement
USDA Foods Annual Food Survey Training for SY 2026–2027
Forecasting & Updated Planning Tool
ND DPI will offer a required training for staff responsible for completing the USDA Foods Annual Food Survey for SY 2026–2027. This training will support planning, forecasting, and use of the updated planning tool.
📝 Training Registration
Registration is now open. Please register for one session only using the link that best fits your schedule. Both sessions will cover the same content
Session 1 – Central Time
Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 | 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. (CT)
👉Registration Link: USDA Foods Annual Food Survey Training for SY26/27: Forecasting & Updated Planning Tool | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams
Session 2 – Mountain Time Friendly
Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 | 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. (CT)
👉 Registration Link: USDA Foods Annual Food Survey Training for SY26/27: Forecasting & Updated Planning Tool | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams
📋 Training Agenda
- Annual Food Survey overview for SY 2026–2027
- Forecasting to support full utilization of USDA Foods entitlement
- Updated planning tool walkthrough
- Sneak peek of USDA Foods for SY 2026–2027
- Q & A
For all USDA Food Distribution inquiries, please contact:
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