Meeting the Need for Kosher and Halal Foods through The Emergency Assistance Food Program (TEFAP)
USDA is interested in learning from stakeholders how we can better meet the needs of customers seeking kosher or halal foods through The Emergency Assistance Food Program (TEFAP). So far, USDA has held discussions with several advocacy organizations, 9 State Agencies, and food banks in those states that serve communities with kosher and/or halal food needs. USDA is reviewing the information gathered through these conversations to determine some actions and next steps we can take to better meet the needs of customers seeking kosher and halal foods.
USDA is interested in feedback from States and food banks in all States and territories about how to best meet their customers' needs. Feedback can always be shared with your
State Agency or sent to USDAFoods@usda.gov.
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The Emergency Assistance Food Program (TEFAP) Reach and Resiliency Grant Awards
On December 6, 2021, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for the first $50 million of the $100 million in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Reach and Resiliency Grant Initiative. These grants are part of USDA’s larger Build Back Better Initiative and are intended to expand TEFAP’s reach into remote, rural, Tribal, and/or low-income areas that are underserved by the program. Applications were due on February 18, 2022. A panel is currently reviewing all the submitted applications. FNS anticipates that final awards will be announced this spring.
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Goods Receipt Entry - Exactly How Important Is It?
Both direct ship sales orders and multi-food requisitions are required to have Goods Receipts (GR) entered in WBSCM within 2 calendar days. The GR notifies FNS and other parties of the receipt of a USDA Foods shipment and is an integral part of the invoicing process, which ensures prompt vendor payments for direct deliveries. Timely entry of GRs assists USDA staff in determining and following up on late deliveries and aids the states and local agencies in tracking and managing inventory using WBSCM reporting options.
Delays in a receiving entity entering GRs may result in USDA contracting staff entering a GR on their behalf. This has been known to create issues when deliveries have been incomplete, cases damaged or the delivery is in fact still outstanding. A GR entered by the receiving entity serves as part of the verification needed for USDA to pay invoices and therefore makes it imperative that an accurate and timely GR is entered.
For multi-food shipments, a delivery document must first be entered by the National Warehouse before a GR can be entered by an ITO or SDA. Missing vendor documents, changes to orders, and system glitches are some things that may delay the uploading of a delivery document. Please contact the WBSCM help desk if a delivery document is not available.
Goods Receipts Tips and Important Reminders:
- Enter Goods Receipts in WBSCM within 2 calendar days of receipt of the product.
- When receiving a USDA Foods shipment, be sure to take accurate counts and include any shortages or damages on the signed copy of the Bill of Lading and when entering the GR in WBSCM.
- Timely GR entries help the states, local agencies and warehouse managers keep track of received and pending deliveries.
- Submit a WBSCM Help Desk ticket if a multi-food delivery document has not been uploaded.
- Submit a WBSCM Help Desk ticket as soon as possible if an incorrect GR entry was made and you are unable to update it.
Frozen Groundfish Filets – Endless Options for a Healthy Meal
Frozen groundfish filets are some of our newest bonus foods available! But what are groundfish? While they may sound different, it's likely you have eaten them many times. Their name comes from how and where they feed and live. Groundfish are fish that live or feed near the bottom of the sea or lake, like pollock, perch, and haddock. Like most fish, groundfish are a great source of protein and supply nutrients like B vitamins (niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, B6), phosphorous, and magnesium. With a mild flavor and delicate, flaky texture, these fish can take on other flavors and are a great “center of the plate” feature in many recipes. Need some ideas? Try:
- Steaming the fish in lemon juice, garlic, fresh or dried herbs, and top with a lemon wedge.
- Marinating fish filets in oil, lime, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder and onion powder and then broiling; flake the fish and create fish tacos.
- Baking fish in a tomato sauce with any variety of fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables; serve on top of steaming rice.
These ideas are only the beginning! For more delicious ways to prepare groundfish varieties in TEFAP, check out recipes from MyPlate Kitchen on MyPlate.gov (search term: fish). Groundfish can be used in any recipe that calls for fish filets.
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Hazelnuts in The Emergency Assistance Food Program (TEFAP)!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), purchased hazelnuts for distribution to The Emergency Assistance Food Program (TEFAP) in FY 2021 as part of their annual Section 32 (bonus) purchases.
Hazelnuts are not only delicious, but they are nutritious. Nutritionally, Hazelnuts contain Vitamin E and B, and are rich in minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and zinc. This combination of vitamins and minerals, as part of an overall healthy diet, can provide numerous benefits, including strengthening of bones, supporting the immune system, and helping to lower the risk of heart disease.
For an easy, delicious snack using hazelnuts, try this Easy Trail Mix!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of hazelnuts
- 2/3 cup of dried cranberries or raisins
- 1/4 cup roasted peanuts
- 1/4 cup cereal, such as oat circles or corn squares
Directions:
- Add hazelnuts, dried cranberries or raisins, peanuts and cereal to a bowl or jar.
- Mix or shake to evenly distribute each ingredient.
- Enjoy!
Serving Size: ¼ cup
Servings per Recipe: 8-9 servings
Nutrition in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) Food Package Factsheet
USDA created a one-page factsheet "Nutrition in the CSFP Food Package" that highlights the benefits of USDA Foods contained in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) food package, addresses common misperceptions about shelf-stable (packaged and canned) foods, and provides tips on including CSFP foods in healthy meals and snacks. This factsheet can be printed and given out to participants, and/or used as a guide for state and local staff to answer participant questions!
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Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) 2022 Caseload
On March 2nd, USDA issued the tentative Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) caseload and administrative grants for 2022. CSFP is funded at $322 million for fiscal year 2022. The tentative national caseload allocation is 757,560 for the 2022 caseload cycle, which is a 3,074 slot decrease from the 2021 national caseload level of 760,634. This decrease is due to State agencies requesting less caseload than in 2021. FNS assigns caseload in accordance with program regulations at 7 CFR 247.21 and annual appropriations legislation. For more information on caseload management best practices, check out the webinar recording from USDA's CSFP Caseload Management Webinar from February 20, 2020.
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National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference
USDA staff presented a USDA Foods session at the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference to share program updates for TEFAP and CSFP. Attendees received the latest information on program funding, flexibilities, food availability, special purchasing initiatives, and current efforts to better understand the needs of clients participating in TEFAP. We enjoyed the opportunity to engage with so many of our program stakeholders!
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American Commodity Distribution Association Conference Preview
This year's annual American Commodity Distribution Association (ACDA) conference will be April 24th-27th in Orlando, FL. View the full conference schedule here. USDA will be leading a variety of sessions during the conference. Here are a few highlights:
Household Highlights -- In this session, USDA will share policy and program updates about TEFAP and CSFP, including information and resources for states and local programs.
TEFAP Ordering and Inventory Management -- This session will provide an overview of the TEFAP ordering process and what factors are considered by FNS when offering entitlement and bonus products, opening catalogs and selecting delivery periods, approving orders, and monitoring funds balances. We will also discuss best practices and tools for monitoring and managing TEFAP inventories.
Ordering Commodities to Meet Cultural Needs -- Food banks are shifting to meet the specific needs of their partners and clients. Purchasing and sourcing behaviors are changing so that cultural and medical needs are met. Let's explore how ACDA stakeholders are addressing cultural/religious preferences.
We look forward to meeting you there!
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WBSCM Upgraded
The Web-based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system was successfully upgraded and transitioned to Google Chrome as the preferred browser on March 14, 2022.
As part of this upgrade, all core components of WBSCM have been updated to the currently available patch levels. This ensures that the system is keeping up with security vulnerabilities and operating at its best. Accessibility features and more consistent, user-friendly designs have been applied to reports and other areas, including adding over 1,300 onscreen tool tips!
Specific changes FNS and domestic customers may encounter include:
- In the order entry screen, text boxes can be resized by dragging the lower right corner in Chrome.
- On the receipt entry screen, goods receipt message type and descriptions are displayed in a different order.
- The Delivery Schedule Report has been renamed the National Warehouse Delivery Schedule.
- The Program field has been expanded from 5 characters to 40 characters.
- The Program selection list for reports such as Order Status Report and Requisition Status Report has been updated to include the full description next to the name or abbreviation.
- In tabular list views, column width is adjusted to fit the content area, so when there are few columns, they may appear wider than needed.
Figure 1 - Table with columns stretched to fit content area.
- When table is sorted, cells that contain the same value for adjacent rows are merged. When selected, it may appear that additional rows are selected in those columns.
Figure 2 - Table with a merged cell for adjacent rows with the same value.
For a full description of the changes and improvements, refer to the Release Notes and Upgrade Summary Job Aid. The WBSCM Navigation Video has also been updated to reflect the Chrome browser and new features. Note: Log in to WBSCM first to access these materials.
Following this upgrade, WBSCM performance will work best in Chrome; however, users may continue to use other browsers. A new job aid with updated browser settings and tips for working with WBSCM in Chrome is now available.
For questions about WBSCM, please contact the WBSCM Service Desk or call (877) 927-2648.
USDA staff will be participating in these upcoming meetings in 2022:
We hope to see you there!
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