5/4/26 C.A.R.E. - Food Distribution Programs Newsletter

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 05/06/2026 12:54 PM PDT

Food Distribution Program C.A.R.E.: Week of May 4, 2026

Update: USDA Direct Delivery (Commodities)
Update: School Year (SY) 2026–27 Closure Dates
Update: FDP Sponsor Application
Update: Diversions
Update: DoD Fresh Produce
Update: What's Next on the Road to Washington ACES?
USDA Product of the Month
Important Dates to Remember

Update: USDA Direct Delivery (Commodities)

Remember to notify the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) with delivery information updates.

If you have a new delivery contact person or delivery address change, please fill out the Delivery Updates Form.

USDA Food Complaints

Resources

Update: School Year (SY) 2026–27 Closure Dates

Please complete the Non-Operating Dates Survey for School Year 2026–27 by May 31.

This survey helps the state-contracted warehouse and DoD-contracted vendor to schedule your United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foods deliveries throughout the upcoming school year.

Questions? Email the Food Distribution inbox or call 360-725-6215.

Update: FDP Sponsor Application

School Year 2026–27 Sponsors are required to review the Sponsor Application Sheet information, make any corrections, and submit the application. OSPI must review and approve each application prior to sponsors placing USDA Foods orders.

Sponsor Application Instructions

The Sponsor Application Sheets are due on or before May 31.

Questions? Email Sarah Davis or call 360-725-6215.

Upcoming Trainings

School Meal Programs Annual Training

Dates: August 5, 6 & 13

Register

Introduction to W-ACES for Primary Users

Date: August 4 & 10

Time: 9–10 am

Register

Final Rule Workshops: New Added Sugars and Sodium Weekly Limits

Ellensburg

Date: May 8
Time: 9 am–4 pm

Register

Vancouver

Date: May 13
Time: 9 am–4 pm

Register

School Year 2025–26 School Meal Program Monthly Webinar Series

Monthly, September through June.

Time: 2–3 pm

Register

Update: Diversions

The last day to submit adjustment requests is May 10.

2025–26 Diversion Adjustment Request Form

Questions? Email Sarah Davis or call 360-725-6215.

Update: DoD Fresh Produce

Receipt of delivery is required within two business days of receiving the DoD Fresh Produce delivery. After three days, the receipt is past due, and orders can no longer be placed for that site.

The 2025-26 DoD Allocation Adjustment Form is open through June 10.

Questions? Email Sarah Davis or call 360-725-6215.

Update: What's Next on the Road to Washington ACES?

Washington Allocation and Commodity Entitlement System (W-ACES), Washington’s new food distribution management system, will go live in August for SY 2026–27. Read more about CNPweb’s retirement and the transition to W-ACES in the April C.A.R.E newsletter.

OSPI’s W-ACES team is working intensively with the developers to prepare for a smooth launch. While continuing to build, test, and enhance system features, the project team is creating training opportunities and resources to guide sponsors to confirm the September delivery in W-ACES.

What can sponsors expect leading up to the W-ACES launch?

July 2026: Log-in instructions will be sent to Primary Program Contacts. Note that this email will be sent by the W-ACES system, ServiceNow.
August 2026: W-ACES system access begins for the September order period. Training, office hours, and on-demand resources will be available to provide support with account management, entitlement management, and monthly ordering.

What steps should sponsors take now?

Save the date for W-ACES training opportunities

Introduction to W-ACES for Primary Users
In this virtual training, primary users will be able to review and must confirm their information before placing their first monthly order.
There are two opportunities to attend.

Date: August 4 & August 10
Time: 9–10 am

Register

Register for School Meal Programs Annual Training

Attend the "Confirming Your Monthly Orders in W-ACES: A Hands-On Walkthrough" session during the School Meals Annual Training.
This session will will walk through the steps to confirm your September order.

Date: August 6
Time: 1–2:15 pm

Register

The W-ACES portal puts helpful resources front and center.

USDA Product of the Month

For May, we’re spotlighting USDA Foods item 100241 Peaches, Diced, Cups, Frozen.

Product Description

This item is U.S. Grade B (Grade A for defects) diced peaches. This item is packed in an extra light syrup and is delivered frozen in cases containing 96 4.4‐ounce cups.

Culinary Tips and Recipes

Peach cups are individually portioned and are ready to thaw and serve for breakfast, lunch or snack.
Individually portioned fruit cups are a convenient option for breakfast in the classroom, field trips, or grab‐and‐go lunches.
For culinary techniques and recipe ideas, visit the Institute of Child Nutrition or USDA’s Team Nutrition.

USDA Product Information Sheets provide basic product information, and the USDA Foods Database provides vendor-specific nutrition, allergen, and ingredient information.

Important Dates to Remember

May 10	Last day to submit Diversion Adjustment form
May 31	SY 2026-27 Closure Dates
May 31	Invoices Post in CNPweb
May 31	FDP Sponsor Application

ALL STUDENTS PREPARED FOR POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS, CAREERS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI oversees K-12 public education in Washington state. Our mission is to provide funding, resources, tools, data and technical assistance that enable educators to ensure students succeed in our public schools, are prepared to access post-secondary training and education, and are equipped to thrive in their careers and lives.

ADA NOTIFICATION FOR OSPI CHILD NUTRITION SERVICES EVENTS
To arrange accommodations for persons with disabilities for OSPI Child Nutrition Services events, please contact the Child Nutrition Services Team at 360-725-6200, TTY 360-664-3631, or by email, child.nutrition@k12.wa.us at least three business days before the event. Please note that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require OSPI to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.

This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES
Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com.

OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200, 360-725-6162 (TTY: 360-664-3631), equity@k12.wa.us.

This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider.