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June 2024 Monthly Newsletter
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TDA has announced the development of a new nutritional system, Texas Automated Nutrition System (TANS), coming Program Year 26. Click the headline for more information.
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TDA has released the new Waiver Request to Serve Summer Non-Congregate Meals in Cases of Extreme Heat/Poor Air Quality. This form must be used to report non-congregate meals served at outdoor SFSP or SSO sites in the event of a Heat Advisory, Excessive Heat Warning, Excessive Heat Watch, or "purple flag" or higher air quality warning. Click the headline for information.
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Help Texas Communities Get the Message with Summer Meal Programs Promotional Materials
Order Summer Meal Promotional Materials. TDA’s automatic shipment of printed summer outreach materials has been completed. If you did not receive your shipment, please email SummerMeals@TexasAgriculture.gov and tracking numbers will be provided. If you would like to order additional printed materials to promote summer meals in your community, please complete this form. Click here for access to all Summer Meal Program resources.
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TDA has released a revised Daily Food Production Record suite for the School Nutrition Programs. The Onsite Kitchen Production Record along with associated instructions have been updated so that school districts can better document both the amounts planned for each food/menu item as well as the number of portions of each food/menu item served. Additional functional improvements were also added to the Onsite Form.
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To assist rural summer operators approved to operate a non-congregate site in Summer 2024, TDA has released new prototype forms for SFSP/SSO site monitoring, meal counting (non-congregate and congregate), and a participant notification template for conditional non-congregate sites. Additionally, Summer Non-Congregate FAQs have been updated with new clarifying guidance.
2024-2025 Paid Lunch Equity Tool
Cost Comparison Tool
A new excel-based ordering and forecasting tool has been added to SquareMeals as previously demonstrated at MegaCon. This tool allows for easy cost comparison between USDA Food materials given a school's needed food demand. Click here to view.
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Several revised Administrator’s Reference Manual (ARM) sections have been posted and released. Click the headline for information.
Updated Household Application Documents
The School Nutrition Programs (SNP) Household Applications and Application Instructions, and Letters templates have been updated as of May 31, 2024. Only minor updates were made, including:
- The school year (SY) has been removed from document headers and footers
- The Application Instructions have been updated to reflect the Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEGs) effective July 1 2024 - June 30, 2025.
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On Thursday, June 20, from 1 – 2 p.m. CST, USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Patrick Leahy 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 registration link for the webinar can be found here. Click the headline for more information.
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Now Available! New Food Yields Added to the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs New yields are now available in the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs Interactive Web-based (FBG) Tool and FBG Mobile App. New yield data is available for USDA Foods canned mixed fruit and canned beef, smoked salmon fillet, cactus fruit (prickly pear), purple rice, instant long grain brown rice, and quick cooking medium grain brown rice.
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Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards!
The Healthy Meals Incentives (HMI) Recognition Awards application process and award criteria have been streamlined to make it easier and faster to apply! With 8 awards possible, apply to spotlight your innovative practices and efforts in improving the nutritional quality of school meals. Awardees receive national recognition and a travel stipend to attend an exclusive national healthy meals summit during October in Las Vegas! Visit here to learn more and apply!
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Get Ready for Turnip the Beet 2024!
Visit SquareMeals to view updated and new resources to assist with the award application process! View our Application Toolkit for application tips, best practices from 2023 awardees, and a sample nomination form. We also have a Summer Activity Toolkit of curated nutrition activities and resources to include in your summer meal programs! Interested in applying or want more information? Click here to let us know!
Chef Ann Foundation - Bulk Milk Grant Applications are Open!
The Bulk Milk program helps schools transition to serve milk using bulk dispensers and reusable cups, instead of single-use containers. The Chef Ann Foundation is offering bulk milk grants to K-12 schools across the US - Deadline to apply is June 27. Click here to learn more and apply.
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Next LFS Office Hours: 3-4 p.m. June 12.
Join us for the June LFS office hours meeting June 12 at 3 p.m. CST. 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.
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Mushroom Recipe Contest
Mushrooms are nutritious, versatile, and available year-round! Do you have a recipe that uses fresh mushrooms that children love? Submit your recipe for a chance to win a prize ranging from t-shirts, mushroom grow kits, or free registration to a national conference! Deadline for submissions is June 30, 2024. Click here for more information.
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School Lunch Hero Day Success StoriesThank you for celebrating School Lunch Hero Day with us on May 3, 2024! Between preparing healthy meals for Texas students, adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies, and offering service with a smile, school nutrition professionals are true heroes. Click here to see how heroes across Texas were celebrated!
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Subscribe to E-Harvest
TDA's E-Harvest newsletter contains information to help you succeed in Farm to School and Early Care programming. Our E-Harvest newsletter comes out every month and includes Harvest of the Month recipes, successful Farm to School and Early Care Contracting Entity (CE) profiles, learning opportunities, funding opportunities, and more. Click Farm to School Newsletter to subscribe here.
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Help TDA support Farm Fresh Programming by taking our short survey
This 5–10 minute survey helps inform the agency of Texas Farm Fresh activity, and provides feedback on your needs and how to support Farm Fresh programming in schools and childcare settings across the state. Click here to complete this important survey.
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USDA Foods for Further ProcesingRecipient Agencies choosing to participate in USDA Foods for Further Processing must manage inventory in good effort to ensure entitlement is used in the program year received.
Processing Accounts
Check your processing account balances online, 24/7. Tracking systems also provide reports for year-to-date usage comparison and end-of-year reconciliation in various metrics that include cases, pounds, and dollars. Routinely checking balances can ensure pounds are being used properly, credit for USDA value has been applied, transfers posted, and correct end products are being ordered.
Contact your local Education Service Center for technical assistance in creating an account, monitoring inventory, and generating reports. Report Flyer Link
Processing Webpage Updated
The USDA Foods Processing page is being updated with a new look and abundance of information. Click here to view
Annual Redistribution of Pounds (Processing)
JULY 1, 2024: The annual redistribution of pounds is applied to all Recipient Agency accounts participating in USDA Foods for further processing. Order deliveries for the current program year must be delivered to your location by June 30, 2024.
One Page Flyer
SY24-25 Recipient Agency ID Transition TDA was utilizing TX-UNPS to manage USDA Foods for the National School Lunch Program. TDA has completed the transition for entitlement management, ordering, and receiving functions to USDA's Web Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system. Beginning July 1, 2024, the tracking system will display the 7-digit code generated through WBSCM for Texas School Districts instead of the previous 5-digit code generated from TXUNPS. The new 7-digit code is generated through WBSCM.
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NSLP-USDA Foods Inventory Updates
SY24 Annual Inventory Physical Inventory Counts are currently being conducted at all State Contracted Warehouses. Regions 4,6,7, and 8 have been completed. Regions 1,2,3 and 5 will occur in June so TX-UNPS will be locked during the counts. Additionally, there won't be any orders placed in Gold Star Foods Online system.
Remaining inventory from Regions 1 and 2 will be transferred to Gold Star Foods and will be made available by July for SY25 orders.
Please attend your new warehouse inventory system training as they are being announced by respective state contracted warehouse. Your State Contracted Warehouse inventory system will be the inventory system used for SY25, so it is highly important you attend training and ask your questions directly with their staff.
TX-UNPS officially closed on JUNE 3, 2024.
Ensure you are organizing your current storage space to make room for your SY25 USDA Foods and monitor your inventory in conjunction with your menu planning. If you have any questions regarding your menus and/or inventory, contact your Education Service Center representative.
Lastly, as a reminder, keep your USDA Foods inventory levels less than 6 months on hand (MOH) to maintain compliance with the NSLP for SY25.
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USDA Foods Ordering UpdatesSY 2023-2024
Current participants for the DoD Fresh Program. Please remember to receipt in FFAVORS for each delivery within 7-calendar days from date of delivery.
• June 17-June 21 – No orders can be entered into FFAVORS after this week.
• June 24-June 28 – All final deliveries must be signed for and also receipted for in FFAVORS.
SY 2024-2025
As of May 24, catalogs for Direct Delivery items are closed in WBSCM for Round 2.
TDA anticipates communicating the results of round 2 by the end of June.
NEW DoD Fresh Program Participating School Districts, Private Schools, Charter Schools, and Residential Child-Care Institutions: Entitlement dollars and Campus data will be loaded into FFAVORS in June. Orders for the new school year can be placed as early as July 1, 2024.
Questions regarding USDA Foods? Please first contact your education service center for technical assistance or send emails directly to commodityoperations@texasagriculture.gov.
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TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
COMMISSIONER SID MILLER
This product was funded by USDA.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. |
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