News & Notes
Secretary Rollins Shares Vision for Nutrition Programs
On February 13, 2025, Brooke Rollins was sworn in as the 33rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and shared her vision for the Department’s 16 nutrition programs. Learn more about Secretary Rollins’ commitment to FDPIR!
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FDPIR Consultation with the Tribal Leader Consultation Work Group
On April 7, 2025, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services John Walk engaged in formal consultation with Tribal Nations on FDPIR in Chandler, AZ. The consultation continues USDA’s commitment of government-to-government dialogue on this important nutrition program. Agenda items included research studies, warehouse response, food package updates, IFMS, state SNAP-Ed consultations, and other important topics.
 USDA Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services John Walk and USDA Office of Tribal Relations Acting Director Betsy Rakola join Tribal Nation officials at the April 7 FDPIR consultation in Chandler, AZ. Credit: Photo courtesy of USDA
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Following the consultation, Acting Deputy Under Secretary Walk visited the Gila River Indian Community Food Distribution Center where FDPIR is administered under a grocery store model serving an average of 350 individuals monthly. Gila River Indian Community also participates in the FDPIR Self-Determination Demonstration Project, a 2018-Farm Bill authorized demonstration project where Tribes, instead of USDA, may purchase food for their program supporting Tribal self-governance. Gila River Indian Community is currently purchasing tepary beans, a traditional product of the Sonoran Desert, from a native producer under the demonstration project.
Thank you to everyone who participated in-person and virtually. Additional information about this consultation can be found here.
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Tepary beans, a traditional product of the Sonoran Desert, is Tribally purchased and distributed by Gila River Indian Community as part of the FDPIR Self-Determination Demonstration Project. Credit: Photo courtesy of USDA
Updates on the Community Nutrition Champion Trainings
By Teresa Jackson, Oklahoma Tribal Engagement Partners (OKTEP), Stillwater, OK
 Hesci (Hello) and happy tasahce (spring)! We had our first Community Nutrition Champion Training (CNCT) of FY25 in November in Tulsa, OK, and trained 13 Champions from 6 Tribal Nations. At the 2-day in-person training, which was designed for non-nutrition professionals who work in FDPIR and engage with participants, we covered a variety of topics including MyPlate, food labels, food safety, recipe modification, evaluations, and more.
 As a part of attending CNCT, Champions are asked to respond to a survey. When Tulsa Champions reflected on what part of the training would be most useful for their work, they responded:
 The remaining FY25 trainings are as follows:
June 25 - 26, 2025 - Traverse City, Michigan
FDPIR programs can send staff to the training that works best for their schedule. Nominations are open so please nominate yourself or another FDPIR staff member using the button below:
Featured Food
Frozen Fruits and Vegetables Count, Too!
As the weather warms up, it is the perfect time to find creative ways to infuse more fruits and vegetables in your meals and snacks. FDPIR offers several frozen fruits and vegetables including strawberries, blueberries, carrots, peas, and newly added to the food package, a vegetable stir fry blend! Each of these foods come in a 1 lb. package and have a longer shelf-life than fresh produce. Fruits and vegetables provide fiber, essential vitamins and minerals, and they can even be a source of hydration.
Frozen fruits can be used in a fruit and yogurt parfait, or they can be added to muffins, pancakes, or quick breads.
Frozen vegetables can be added to soups and salads, or they can be served alone as a side dish at dinner time.
No matter how you decide to use frozen fruits and vegetables, remember, they count towards your daily fruit and vegetable intake. Check out our Product Information Sheets for more tips, tricks, and recipes using frozen fruits and vegetables in FDPIR!
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Resource Round-up
Free Nutrition Education Resources at Your Fingertips
The USDA Foods Nutrition Education Resource Library offers nutrition education resources free of charge that can be ordered and delivered directly to all Tribes participating in FDPIR.
What's new?
Steps to Receiving USDA DoD Fresh Produce Poster
This poster provides best practices for receiving and handling produce received through the USDA DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. Each item includes one 11 x 17 poster. These posters can be hung up in your receiving and delivery area to ensure FDPIR staff know the best practices for receiving fresh produce.
Recipe cards
Recipe cards can be used to promote specific foods in FDPIR. These colorful resources include nutrition information and a tasty recipe. The following foods have brand new recipe cards available to order for free: frozen strawberries, canned apricots, raisins, corn, apples, canned hominy, potatoes, oats, frozen bison stew meat, turkey deli meat, and extra virgin olive oil.
 What else is available in the resource library right now?
Posters: Brighten the walls of your warehouse, inside the tailgate, or grocery store with these posters.
Recipe Cards: Need a recipe for an FDPIR food? There are over 20 different recipe cards available in the warehouse. These colorful recipe cards come in a pack of 10 and often highlight traditional foods available in FDPIR.
Magnets: Promote the use of food thermometers to check the internal temperature of fish, meats, poultry, eggs, and casseroles with this food safety magnet.
Shelf Talkers: Informative and fun, display these small signs next to items around your store. Each shelf talker promotes healthy eating habits with FDPIR foods, such as eating whole grains, choosing colorful fruits and vegetables, cutting back on salt, and much more!
Stickers: Are you “Nuts about Nutrition,” or want to encourage your kids to “try something new?” These stickers are a great way to engage young children.
Brochure: Community members may need more information about FDPIR. Use this tri-fold brochure to provide details about what is offered in the FDPIR food package, eligibility, and how to enroll.
Please note that resources cannot be shipped to a P.O. Box and will take 2-3 weeks for delivery. If you have any questions, please contact us at USDAFoods@usda.gov.
Waiting for your printed resources to arrive? You can also download and print resources to use immediately!
Webinar Round-Up
Technology Synopsis
WBSCM User Feedback Sessions
FNS hosts monthly WBSCM user feedback sessions for FDPIR, state, and local/recipient agency users. These sessions are intended to identify challenges and opportunities for potential enhancements and future trainings in WBSCM. The session agenda also includes WBSCM announcements and demos of new functionality when applicable.
The meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 2 p.m. Eastern. If you are interested in participating in future sessions, please contact Samantha Escamilla.
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