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Check out the CACFP Memo Page for a list of all memos and announcements.
No new CACFP memos since the last newsletter.
On April 24, 2024, USDA's Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) released the public inspection copy of the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This was published on the Federal Register on April 25, 2024.
FNS has also developed a final rule landing page called Updates to the School Nutrition Standards that includes resources to support implementation of the updated standards including infographics, comparison charts highlighting changes to program requirements, implementation timelines, frequently asked questions, and more. This page provides information for all Child Nutrition Programs affected by the final rule.
FNS has also created a separate page titled Implementation Timeline for Updated Nutrition Requirements in CACFP & SFSP with an overview of CACFP and SFSP-specific information.
Effective July 1, 2024, the following operational and technical flexibilities will be implemented in the CACFP:
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Tribal Communities who serve primarily American Indian participants will be allowed to substitute vegetables for the grain component.
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Nut and Seeds can now credit for the full Meat/Meat Alternate component instead of the 50% crediting limit at breakfast, lunch, and supper.
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Geographic Preference in Procurement now expands geographic preference in procurement specifications to allow "locally grown", "locally raised" or "locally caught".
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Vitamin A and D unit of measurements for fluid milk has been changed from IUs (international units) to mcg (micrograms). This is a measurement conversion to better align with current nutrition fact label standards.
- Vitamin A requirements is now 150 mcg retinol activity equivalents (RAE)
- Vitamin D is now 2.5 mcg
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Definition of whole grain-rich has been updated in the regulations to "the grain content of a product is between 50 and 100 percent whole grain with any remaining grains being enriched." This does not change the way whole grain-rich is determined in the Child Nutrition Programs.
Effective October 1, 2025, the following provisions will be implemented in the CACFP:
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Breakfast Cereals: Must contain no more than 6 grams of added sugars per dry ounce. Currently, breakfast cereals must contain no more than 6 grams of total sugars per dry ounce.
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Yogurt: Must contain no more than 12 grams of added sugars per 6 ounces. Currently, yogurt must contain no more than 23 grams of total sugars per 6 ounces.
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Meal Modifications: Will allow both state licensed healthcare professionals and registered dietitians to write medical statements to request meal modifications on behalf of participants with disabilities. Note: This does not take effect until October 1, 2025.
Additional information will be forthcoming from USDA and ODE CNP will provide additional information and updated resources in the coming months and years.
ODE CNP has updated the ODE CNP Civil Rights contact information on the Civil Rights page.
The phone number has been updated on the page and the Civil Rights Complaint Forms. The updated number is bolded in the contact information below.
To file a Child Nutrition Programs complaint of discrimination with the State of Oregon, please send an email to ODE.CNPCivilRights@ode.oregon.gov, or reach out to:
Director of Child Nutrition Programs,
Oregon Department of Education,
255 Capitol Street NE,
Salem, OR 97310
or call (503) 339-6821, (voice)
or (503) 378-2892(TDD).
Sponsors of all Child Nutrition Programs must update the Civil Rights Complaint Forms available at all sites.
A year goes by quick when you are having fun! CACFP Renewals for Fiscal Year 2025 will start on August 1, 2024 and applications will close on August 16, 2024. The operating Fiscal Year for CACFP is October through September and Fiscal Year 2025 will start on October 1, 2024 and end on September 30, 2025.
Food Program Coordinators and Authorized Representatives listed in CNPweb will receive the CACFP Renewal Memo in their inboxes in late July 2024.
To get ready for CACFP Renewals, we encourage you take the following steps:
- Notify your assigned Child Nutrition Specialist if there are any changes to the Authorized Representative or Food Program Coordinator roles and update your Sponsor Info Sheet in CNPweb for Fiscal Year 2024.
- The Food Program Coordinator must complete all required CACFP Annual Trainings (see CACFP Annual Training Memo from March 29, 2024) if it has not been completed already - if you are not sure of your current status, check with your assigned Child Nutrition Specialist
- Talk with your administration and team and work together to collect the information you need for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 operating period of October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025. Information needed will include: Sites that will be operating and the meal service times and dates, months of operation, lead site staff, your operation's CACFP management plan, and more.
- If you are a CACFP sponsor on a school year calendar with site(s) operating in September 2024, check your CNPweb FY 2024 applications to ensure that your Site Info Sheet is up to date.
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All non-school food authority sponsors will require a budget this year, even single site sponsors!
- Work with your finance staff to review your FY 2024 budget and update it for FY 2025. If you did not have a FY 2024 budget, ask your Child Nutrition Specialist to send you the last budget on file with ODE CNP.
CACFP Annual Training is due on June 1, 2024. Sponsors are required to complete all assigned trainings by this date. Information on all required trainings for center-based sponsors are available from the March 29, 2024 memo: Action Required: CACFP Annual Training.
Sponsors are encouraged to review the memo for links to training videos and quizzes. If you have questions about your annual training requirements, reach out to your assigned Child Nutrition Specialist.
On January 1st, 2024, a change in the State of Oregon’s procurement statutes created an opportunity for some Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsors to be able to take advantage of a higher micro-purchase threshold for purchases under this program.
Previously, both the federal micro-purchase and State of Oregon small procurement thresholds were the same at $10,000. However, in the 2023 legislative session, Oregon passed Senate Bill 1047 which adjusted the Oregon Revised Statutes regarding the state’s small procurement method and set the threshold to $25,000. This change took effect on January 1st, 2024. This created a situation where sponsors of this federal program could take advantage of 2 CFR 200.320(a)(1)(iv) which allows non-federal entities to establish a threshold higher than the micro-purchase threshold identified in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
According to USDA Policy Memo CACFP 03-2022, program sponsors may self-certify a threshold up to $50,000 on an annual basis and must maintain documentation of such self-certification.
For the program sponsor to be able to do so, the self-certification must include a justification, clear identification of the threshold, and supporting documentation of any of the following:
(A) A qualification as a low-risk auditee, in accordance with the criteria in 2 CFR 200.520 for the most recent audit;
(B) An annual internal institutional risk assessment to identify, mitigate, and manage financial risks; or,
(C) For public institutions, a higher threshold consistent with State law.
With the passing of Senate Bill 1047, option C became effective for public institutions, and if the institution chooses to self-certify under this option, the more restrictive rule in this instance would be the state of Oregon’s small procurement threshold of $25,000.
Please note that option C is only available for CACFP Sponsors that are public entities, such as school districts, cities, or counties. Private nonprofit organizations who are CACFP sponsors are only potentially able to use options A or B to self-certify a higher micro-purchase threshold.
If an entity wishes to self-certify a higher threshold, those efforts must be fully documented based on the rules described above and listed in 2 CFR 200.320(a)(1). It is the program sponsor’s responsibility to determine and document an appropriate micro-purchase threshold based on internal controls, an evaluation of risk, and its documented procurement procedures. The organization’s procurement procedures and policies must be updated to reflect any changes made. If the sponsors internal procedures are not updated, the organization’s threshold may be the most restrictive if it reflects a value lower than the federal or state requirements.
Please direct any questions to Jared Puckett, Procurement Compliance Specialist at Jared.Puckett@ode.oregon.gov or 971-208-2407.
Child Nutrition Program sponsors who need to reach out to the USDA Foods team can now email the team at ode.usdafoods@ode.oregon.gov.
The inbox name has been changed to better align with the Program name. The current email address of ode.fooddistribution@ode.oregon.gov will still work and the emails will be received by the ODE CNP USDA Foods team.
Join Rick Sherman from the Farm to Child Nutrition Program team "on assignment" as he travels to the Growing School Gardens Summit in San Diego, California. Rick interviews a dozen people with amazing stories. This is a four-part series and all four parts are now available on the OSU Farm to School Podcast website.
Part 1 includes interviews with:
Part 2 includes interviews with:
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Kaitlyn Scheuermann, MPP-D, RDN, LD; Waukee Community School District, Waukee, Iowa
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Selma Sims, Gardeneers, Chicago, Illinois
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Pam Hosimer, University of Maryland Extension, Derwood, Maryland
Part 3 includes interviews with:
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Regi Jones, National Training & Curriculum Specialist, Life Lab, Santa Cruz, CA
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Danielle Russell, Green Schoolyards Program Manager, Openlands, Chicago, Ill
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Erin Croom, Founder, Small Bites Adventure Club, Atlanta GA
Part 4 includes interviews with:
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Matt Sablan, Farm to School Coordinator, Guam Department of Education
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Leona Vrbanac, Culinary Teacher, Newark High School, Newark, OH
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Andrew Tuttle, Director, Edge Perma, Arlington, WA
Show notes, podcast transcripts, and more are now available!
This is a repeat article.
Application submissions are still being accepted for the Start-Up and Expansion Grants for At-Risk Afterschool, Seamless Summer Option (SSO), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)! For the 2023-2025 biennium, grant applications will be accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis. Applications turned in will be evaluated on a monthly basis.
During the 2023-2025 biennium, ODE CNP has the opportunity to provide grants of up to $20,000 per grantee for the startup and/or expansion of the At-Risk Afterschool meal program, SSO and SFSP. To apply, review the Application Forms available on the ODE CNP Special Grants page.
Sponsors are encouraged to share this opportunity with their At-Risk Afterschool and summer meal partners. Questions regarding the grant or the RFA process can be submitted to ode.communitynutrition@ode.oregon.gov.
Darcy Miller has retired from state service at the end of April after more than 21 years with ODE Child Nutrition Programs (CNP). Many sponsors in Oregon know and appreciate Darcy's expertise in all matters Child Nutrition along with her candor and genuine care for all her coworkers and sponsors. Darcy helped to expand participation in the At-Risk Afterschool program in Oregon and over the years has been a pillar of upholding program integrity through her keen eye for detail and ability to provide thorough yet accessible explanations.
Darcy has been kind enough to stay on part time with ODE CNP through October 1, 2024 to help out our team through this transition period. Darcy has retained a small caseload and sponsors who have been assigned to other Specialists have been notified.
After retirement, Darcy is looking forward to traveling, both domestically and abroad, as well as gardening and not waking up at 5 in the morning. Darcy says "I have genuinely enjoyed my time at ODE and my favorite memories come from meeting and working with sponsors. I am inspired and humbled by the important work all Oregon CNP sponsors do every day!"
The ODE CNP team will miss Darcy's friendship and can-do energy. Join us in wishing Darcy an amazing retirement and thanking her for spending just a little more time with us all.
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Apply Now! Oregon & Washington Farm to ECE Institute Application is Live!
This article is available in both English and Spanish.
The Farm to Early Care & Education (ECE) Institute in Oregon and Washington is the first of its kind in the Pacific Northwest and they are inviting family child care and center-based programs to build a team and apply.
About the Farm to ECE Institute: Grow farm to ECE in your community with the support of an entire network
The Farm to ECE Institute model is a year-long professional learning experience (approximately August 2024-June 2025) that brings program-based teams together to build relationships, skills, and a collaborative action plan to further their farm to ECE goals. You’ll create your own team with a variety of expertise from your program and community. Your team members may include classroom educators, administrators, nutrition services staff, and family and community partners. With the support of a coach, teams spend the school year putting their plans into action and strengthening their capacity to integrate lasting impacts across classrooms, cafeterias, and communities.
Read more about this wonderful opportunity and how to apply on the Institute Webpage. We encourage applicants to read through the FAQ page on the Institute webpage for more information about the program, key dates, Institute model, and in-person retreat details.
Applications for the 2024–25 Oregon and Washington Farm to ECE Institute are open!
Applications are due Friday, May 24, 2024. Notifications of team selections will be made by June 5, 2024.
Join us for an info session where we will go over the basics of the Institute, application process, and take questions. A recording will be shared with all registered participants.
Thursday, May 9, 2024 10-11am
Register here
Additional questions? Please reach out to institute@ecotrust.org
¡POSTULA AHORA! ¡La aplicación al Programa Farm to ECE de Oregón y Washington ya se encuentra ACTIVA!
El Programa Farm to Early Care & Education (ECE) de Oregón y Washington es el primero de este tipo en el noroeste del Pacífico. Invitamos a las guarderías familiares y programas basados en el centro a construir un equipo y postular.
Acerca del Programa Farm to ECE: Haga crecer Farm to ECE en su comunidad con el apoyo de toda una red
El modelo del Programa Farm to ECE es una experiencia de aprendizaje profesional de un año de duración (aproximadamente de agosto de 2024 a junio de 2025) que reúne a equipos basados en programas para construir relaciones, habilidades y un plan de acción colaborativo para promover sus objetivos de Farm to ECE. Creará su propio equipo con la variedad de experiencia de su programa y comunidad. Entre los miembros de su equipo puede haber educadores, administradores, personal de servicios de nutrición, familias y aliados de la comunidad. Con el apoyo de un tutor, los equipos pasarán el año escolar poniendo en práctica sus planes y reforzando su capacidad para integrar efectos duraderos en las aulas, los comedores y las comunidades.
Obtenga más información sobre esta magnífica oportunidad y sobre cómo inscribirse en la página web del Programa. Animamos a los postulantes a leer la página de preguntas frecuentes en la página web del Programa para obtener más información sobre el programa, las fechas claves, el modelo de Programa y los detalles del retiro presencial.
¡Las postulaciones al Programa Farm to ECE de Oregón y Washington 2024-25 están abiertas!
El plazo de presentación de postulaciones vence el viernes 24 de mayo de 2024. La selección de los equipos se notificará a más tardar el 5 de junio de 2024.
¿Tiene preguntas adicionales? Por favor, comuníquese con nosotros institute@ecotrust.org
Team Nutrition Connection
USDA's Team Nutrition has a series of resources on their site! Use these resources to teach kids about how fruits and vegetables grow:
USDA Child Nutrition Program operators can request free printed copies of certain Team Nutrition materials, while supplies last, at https://pueblo.gpo.gov/TN/TNPubs.php.
 Meghan Tschida, Community Team Manager
Deanna (DeDe) Poynor, Child Nutrition Specialist, Team Lead
Cathy Brock, Child Nutrition Specialist, Summer Food Service Program Outreach Coordinator
Sarah English, Child Nutrition Specialist
Eliza Kondo, Child Nutrition Specialist
Darcy Miller, Child Nutrition Specialist
Kaitlin Skreen, Child Nutrition Specialist
Shannon Smith, Child Nutrition Specialist
Shirley Wu, Child Nutrition Specialist, Technical Assistance Coordinator
Teresa Murray, Fiscal & Audit Analyst
Emma Ahern, Program Analyst 1
Ashlie Berry, Program Analyst 1
Community Nutrition E-mail box
Visit us on the web ODE CACFP
Upcoming CACFP Newsletters will be distributed around the first week of each month.
Subscribe to this newsletter: CACFP Newsletter Subscription
For previous ODE CNP CACFP newsletters, check out the ODE CNP CACFP Memo page.
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 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 Complaint 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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