USDA Foods Database & Product Information Sheet Update
We know how important it is for school districts to have access to product information for USDA Foods to meet meal pattern requirements and make accommodations for student dietary needs. Two resources available to learn about USDA Foods direct delivered products include the USDA Foods in Schools Product Information Sheets and the USDA Foods Database.
-
Product Information Sheets provide a general compilation of vendor product information, but do not include specifics such as allergens, ingredients, and kosher or halal certifications, as those can vary from vendor to vendor.
- The USDA Foods Database has similar information to the Product Information Sheets, but also includes nutrient, allergen, ingredient, and certification information that is unique to each vendor.
We strive to provide useful resources for all stakeholders and will continue to make the Product Information Sheets available until further notice. Both resources will be evaluated to ensure they meet your needs. In the meantime, we encourage you to make use of the Product Information Sheets and USDA Foods Database to learn about USDA Foods direct delivered products in preparation of the release of the Foods Available List in the coming months.
|
USDA State Agency Meeting: December 4th-6th
The 2023 USDA State Agency Meeting is just around the corner! This year’s meeting will be held December 4-6, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill. On December 4th, during the USDA General Session, the Food Distribution team is planning to share some brief information on various aspects of food distribution programs including:
- An overview of USDA Foods Entitlement/Funds
- 709-5: Shipment and Receipt of USDA Foods
- USDA Foods Processing
- WBSCM
- USDA Foods Database
- Product Information Sheets
- Foods Available List for SY24-25
We look forward to seeing you all there!
|
New WBSCM Consolidation Workbench Search Filters
The WBSCM Consolidation Workbench/Consolidate Requisitions feature is scheduled to be updated by the end of the year. The updates will include improvements to workbench performance to help avoid system timeouts as well as the addition of new search filters.
The filters will allow users to narrow down the number of requisitions pulled for a product/material. The available filters will include Program, Sold-To Party, Ship-To Party, and Ship-To Delivery Date, with each filter allowing for multiple selections.
Detailed information will be available in WBSCM communications once these updates have been deployed.
 The Consolidate Requisitions screen with the new search filters. The filters are not yet available in WBSCM but will be coming soon.
Limited Releases in WBSCM in Coming Months
Due to an ongoing, large-scale data migration project, WBSCM has entered a “brownout” period as of August 1, 2023. During the brownout, WBSCM releases will be minimal, limited mostly to routine maintenance and critical bug fixes. The WBSCM support team expects that this period will last at least 6 months and may be extended depending on the resources required to complete the data migration project. The USDA Foods Technology Branch will provide schedule updates as available.
WBSCM User Feedback Sessions
The USDA Foods Technology Branch hosts monthly WBSCM user feedback sessions for State and local/recipient agency users. These sessions are intended to identify challenges and opportunities for potential enhancements and future trainings in WBSCM. The meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month; the next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 3 PM ET. If you are interested in participating in future sessions, please contact Samantha Escamilla.
|
