Buying local foods for child nutrition programs is getting a little easier!
USDA has expanded the strategies available to child nutrition program (CNP) operators when using the geographic preference option to buy local foods. On April 25, USDA published the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The rule implements a broad range of changes to CNP meal patterns to make meals more nutritious than ever. These changes include expanding the geographic preference option to allow “local as a specification.” CNP food purchasers will be able to require in their solicitations that unprocessed agricultural products be locally grown, raised, or caught.
USDA made this change after hearing considerable feedback from CNP food purchasers who sought a more streamlined approach that could help them serve more healthy and delicious meals made with local foods. To help CNP operators understand this change, the USDA Patrick Leahy Farm to School Team has released a memorandum that explains the change and how to use it: Geographic Preference Expansion Related to the Final Rule.
Starting July 1, 2024, CNP operators will have two strategies available under the geographic preference option. CNP operators may continue to apply additional points or credit for local unprocessed agricultural products, which we now refer to as a “defined scoring advantage,” or, for the first time, use “local as a specification.” Details about both strategies can be found at: Geographic Preference Expansion Related to the Final Rule.
Farm to school programs know the value of strong connections with local food producers. That is why the USDA Farm to School team is working hard to help CNP operators get the most out of the geographic preference option. More resources that dive deeper into using the geographic preference option are on the way. Keep following The Dirt for announcements and visit our website at https://www.fns.usda.gov/f2s/farm-to-school.
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Join the USDA Farm to School Program for two audience-specific, informational webinars in June:
1) Webinar for State agencies on Thursday, June 13, from 3:00-4:00 PM EDT
2) Webinar for farm to school partners and Child Nutrition Program operators on Thursday, June 20, from 2:00-3:00 PM EDT
Webinar 1:
State Agency Webinar on Expanded Geographic Preference in the Final Rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
On Thursday, June 13, from 3:00 – 4:00 PM EDT, USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Patrick Leahy Farm to School Team (USDA Farm to School Team) will host a webinar for State agencies on the expanded geographic preference option in the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The USDA Farm to School Team will provide an overview to help State agencies share the expanded geographic preference option with Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operators.
The registration link for the webinar will be sent to State agencies via PartnerWeb and the FNS Regional Offices.
Webinar 2:
Partners Webinar on Expanded Geographic Preference in the Final Rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
On Thursday, June 20, from 2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT, USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Patrick Leahy Farm to School Team (USDA Farm to School Team) will host a webinar for farm to school partners, including Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operators, on the expanded geographic preference option in the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The final rule includes a small yet significant expansion of the geographic preference provision. Beginning July 1, 2024, the provision will permit CNP operators to use local as a specification when procuring unprocessed agricultural products. The USDA Farm to School Team will provide an overview to help farm to school partners share and learn about the expanded geographic preference option.
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