To prepare for the upcoming WBSCM-USDA Foods requisition and ordering cycle, please keep the following important items in mind: 

•    Ensure you have an active WBSCM Login: All WBSCM logins will use Login.gov credentials, as the eAuth User ID is no longer valid
•    Login Assistance: If you experience any login issues, please refer to the WBSCM resources and training page.
•    Ordering Labs for technical assistance: All Education Service Centers (ESCs) will host and conduct ordering labs, both in-person and virtually

**SY25 Mid-Year Inventory Counts will be conducted in November and December for all State Contracted Warehouses (EPFH, SAFB, USF, and GSF). Plan your delivery orders accordingly. A Smartsheet notification was sent to all CEs regarding the SY25 Mid-Year Inventory Counts.**

• TX-UNPS is not used for SY25 delivery orders. It is currently closed for all State Contracted Warehouses.

• Your State Contracted Warehouse inventory system is the inventory system used for SY25, so it is highly important that training has been completed for staff that place delivery orders and maintain inventory at your school sites. Ask system questions directly to the State Contracted Warehouse staff.

2025 Annual NSLP Financial Report (FY2024 Data) The NSLP Financial Report must be completed by School Funded Authorities (SFAs) who participate in the NSLP, School Breakfast Programs (SBP), Special Milk Program (SMP), and/or CACFP At-Risk programs and must be completed by an authorized representative. The SFA must ensure that the reported data is accurate and reflects the SFA’s financial operations for the fiscal period reported. More information regarding the 2025 NSLP Financial Report will be coming soon.

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has released a policy memo that provides program operators of the child nutrition programs (CNP), including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program, with additional information and clarification on the state agency monitoring process regarding the: 1) Child nutrition (CN) label, 2) Watermarked CN label, and 3) manufacturer’s Product Formulation Statement (PFS). This memorandum also reflects updates to the CN Label Verification System and provides clarification on the date of authorization found on the CN label versus the “Valid Until” date on the CN Label Verification Report. This memo is located here. TDA will add any clarifying guidance to Program Handbooks in future updates.

USDA has updated the complaint form linked to from the Non-Discrimination Statement to reflect new expiration dates. This non-substantive change requires no action, as participants may still submit complaints to USDA using a previous version. The URL to access the form also remains the same.

Team Nutrition’s “Offering Meats and Meat Alternates at School Breakfast” training guide has been updated to be consistent with the Final Rule, “Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.” The final rule allows schools the option to offer grains, meats/meat alternates, or a combination of both at breakfast. This 20-page training guide shows school nutrition professionals how to offer meats and meat alternates at school breakfast by providing menu planning ideas, crediting information, sample menus, and more.

Available for download today. 

The Texas Automated Nutrition System (TANS) will replace TX-UNPS for administration and management of all programs beginning with Program Year 2026 applications. Timelines, resources, and updates are available now on the Systems Hub.

Applications are now open for the 2025 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Programs for Child Nutrition Program providers participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and/or Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). This year, the Request For Application (RFA) has been split into three (3) separate solicitations, two (2) of which are applicable to program operators:

• The Implementation Grant: $50,000 to $500,000 to support the establishment or expansion of comprehensive Farm to School projects.

• The Turnkey Grant: $5,000 to $50,000 to launch or enhance Farm to School activities; agricultural education; or edible gardens.

Visit our SquareMeals page to see our 11 Texas HMI awardees so far! There is still time to apply for this national recognition. Visit the HMI website for an overview video of each award. The application deadline is June 30, 2025. Apply today!

Thank you for celebrating National School Lunch Week with us! Check out the high sea adventures from schools across the state! We look forward to celebrating NSLW 2025 with the theme “Taste the World: Your School Lunch Passport!”

Visit USDA for more information on the Final Rule and upcoming changes. Let us know what kind of resources would best support you in implementing these new meal standards – Click here!

Join us for the December Local Food for Schools (LFS) office hours meeting to get the latest updates on the LFS grant and learn how to make the most of your funds. To view recorded sessions and slides from previous office hours, please visit the LFS webpage. If you are participating in the LFS grant and are not receiving communications, contact localfoodgrant@texasagriculture.gov .

School Year 2024-2025 

DoD Fresh FFV Program Participants: 

Please remember to complete receipts in FFAVORS for each delivery within 5 calendar days from the date of delivery. 

TDA monitors monthly utilization of DoD funds in FFAVORS to ensure proper use of entitlement. To maximize your DoD entitlement SFAs should be spending, at minimum, 10% per month. SFAs who have not been utilizing funds may be at risk of redistribution once the usage analysis begins. 

School Year 2025-2026 

Please attend the USDA Foods Open Discussion of Direct Delivery Webinar scheduled Thursday, Dec. 19 for El Paso and San Antonio Food Bank regions and Friday, Dec. 20 for US Foods and Gold Star Foods regions. TDA will be discussing the results of the USDA Foods Feedback survey and the anticipated materials available to request in Round 1 for direct delivery coming into the warehouse for Program Year (PY) 2026.