TEFAP Builds Back Better

On June 4, 2021, USDA announced that it would be investing $1 billion in the emergency food assistance network as part of USDA’s Build Back Better initiative, which is intended to improve access to nutritious food, address racial injustice and inequity as well as a changing climate, provide ongoing support for producers and workers, and create a more resilient food system.  This investment provides an additional $500 million in supplemental food and administrative funding for TEFAP State agencies in FY 2022.  On August 4^th, FNS issued a memo which outlined the details of the funding, including each State’s share of the funds that they are able to accept as administrative funds.  Build Back Better administrative funds will be available to States in early FY 2022, and food orders are expected to be delivered starting in January 2022.

The June 4^th Build Back Better announcement also included up to $100 million to issue grants for TEFAP State agencies to build infrastructure and expand their reach into remote, rural, and underserved areas, which will be known as TEFAP Reach and Resiliency.  USDA anticipates releasing additional guidance about Reach and Resiliency grant funding this fall.

Foods Available Lists Recently Updated for TEFAP!

The Foods Available List for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) was updated to reflect recent changes including new foods and updated package sizes.  Check out the recent updates below.

New food items:

• Vegetables
  • 111427 – MIXED PRODUCE BOX, FRESH 10-12 LB BOX
  • 111054 – BEANS, GREEN, NO SALT ADDED, FROZEN 2 LB BAG
  • 111053 – CORN, WHOLE KERNEL, NO SALT ADDED, FROZEN 2.5 LB BAG
• Dairy
  • 111200 – MILK, 1% FRESH 128 OZ (GALLON)
  • 111173 – MILK, 1% FRESH 64 OZ (HALF GALLON)
  • 111405 – MILK, SKIM, FRESH 128 OZ (GALLON)
  • 111175 – MILK, SKIM, FRESH 64 OZ (HALF GALLON)

More options - Canned Chicken

In addition to pouched chicken, canned chicken is now available. Note that orders will be filled based on availability of products. For example, if a State orders canned chicken, it is possible they will receive chicken in a pouch if the canned option is not available for purchase by USDA. Conversely, if a State orders pouched chicken, they may receive canned. 

• Material codes:
  • 110477 – CHICKEN, BONED, POUCH, 10 OZ (current item)
  • 110940 – CHICKEN, BONED, CANNED, 12.5 OZ (new option)  

Material code updates

Due to frequent changes in cereal package sizes, the TEFAP Foods Available List will no longer include specific material codes for each item.  Material codes for all cereal products will be updated regularly in WBSCM. 

Kosher and Halal certified items

The TEFAP Foods Available List now offers two new items that are commercial Kosher certified. Commercial certifications are administered by large supervisory agencies such as the Organized Kashrut Laboratories (OK) or the Orthodox Union (OU) and provided to manufacturers when their foods meet specific certification requirements. USDA accepts six Kosher certification symbols and five Halal certification symbols. For a list of Kosher and Halal certifications accepted by USDA, see Exhibit 8.1 and 8.2 in the Commodity Specification for canned vegetables.

Below is a list of all commercial Kosher certified and Halal certified items that can be found on the TEFAP Foods Available List:

Commercial Kosher certified items:

• 110207 – APPLESAUCE, CANNED, 15.5 OZ
• 111060 – BEANS, GARBANZO, CANNED, 15.5 OZ
• 110610 – TOMATO SAUCE, LOW-SODIUM, CANNED, 15.5 OZ
• 111170 – PEANUT BUTTER, SMOOTH, 16 OZ JAR
• 110580 – SALMON, PINK, CANNED, 14.75 OZ
• 100194 – TUNA, CHUNK LIGHT, CANNED, 12 OZ

       Commercial Halal certified items:

• 110610 – TOMATO SAUCE, LOW-SODIUM, CANNED, 15.5 OZ

Check out the TEFAP Foods Available List today!

CSFP 2022 Additional Caseload Requests

On August 5, 2021, FNS released the CSFP Submission of Additional Caseload Requests Memorandum for FY 2022 with information on the requirements for additional CSFP caseload requests for States and ITOs wishing to increase their assigned caseload in 2022.  State agencies and ITOs requesting additional caseload for the 2022 caseload cycle (January 1 through December 31) must submit their State Plan amendments to FNS Regional Offices by November 5, 2021, in accordance with program regulations at 7 CFR 247.21.  If State agencies or ITOs have questions regarding increasing CSFP caseload for FY22, please contact your Regional Office.

Third Year of Farm to Food Bank Project Funding Made Available to TEFAP State Agencies

On August 24, 2021, FNS released a memorandum announcing the availability of $7.544 million in funding for TEFAP State agencies to support FY 2022 TEFAP Farm to Food Bank Projects, and outlining the processes that States must follow to receive funding.  Farm to Food Bank Projects involve the harvesting, processing, packaging, or transportation of foods that are donated by agricultural producers, processors, or distributors for use by emergency feeding organizations (EFOs), and are intended to reduce food waste, provide food to individuals in need, and build key relationships in our nation’s food system.  This is the third year of Farm to Food Bank Project funding made available since the funding source was established by the 2018 Farm Bill. State plan amendments for FY 2022 projects were due on September 21, and FNS anticipates making awards later this fall. For a summary of how TEFAP State agencies have utilized previous Farm to Food Bank Project funding, please visit the FNS website here.

Reminder: Various TEFAP Administrative Funds Will Expire on September 30^th

On July 13, 2021, FNS published a memorandum announcing that in FY 2022 it will once again suspend the normal reallocation process for regularly appropriated TEFAP administrative funds.  Instead of reallocating unused funds among all States based on the TEFAP funding formula, State agencies will have the option to receive their unused regularly appropriated FY 2021 administrative funds back for use in FY 2022.  Returned FY 2021 administrative funds are expected to be available to State agencies in early summer 2022 after the annual grants closeout process is completed.  The suspension of the normal reallocation process is intended to help State agencies to prioritize the spending of several types of TEFAP administrative funds that will expire on September 30, 2021, including: 

• COVID Third Supplemental administrative funds provided by Division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260),
• Returned FY 2020 regularly appropriated TEFAP administrative funds provided by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 (PL 116-94),
• Returned FY 2020 administrative funds provided through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127), and
• Returned FY 2020 administrative funds provided through the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (P.L. 116-136).

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