|
April 2024 Monthly Newsletter
| |
Resources
Click here for recordings and slides from past School Webinars.
Click here for archived newsletters.
| |
On April 5, TDA is opening up the request form for eligible SFSP and SSO operators who want to serve non-congregate summer meals in rural areas this summer. Please refer to the Summer Non-Congregate Feeding Program page on SquareMeals to access the form, updated site mapper, and important FAQs about participation eligibility and requirements. TDA will be hosting a webinar on April 17 to go over these requirements in detail. Click the headline for more information.
| |
Celebrate the difference school nutrition professionals make on Friday, May 3rd. Visit our SquareMeals page and explore our Implementation Toolkit for ideas on how to recognize our school lunch heroes! Let us know about your celebrations plan and if you’d be interested in a friendly visit from TDA – Click here.
| |
2023 Turnip the Beet Awardees
The USDA Turnip the Beet award program recognizes excellent summer meal programs. Congratulations to the 38 Texas awardees who received this award among 141 sponsors nationwide! Awardees are recognized both nationally and state-wide, including recognition at MegaCon 2024. Visit SquareMeals for a complete list of Texas awardees and be on the lookout for new resources for Summer 2024 and Turnip the Beet applications!
| |
School Breakfast Week
Thank you for celebrating National School Breakfast Week 2024! Schools across Texas highlighted the impact of a nutritious school breakfast while having an epic time – Check out how these schools celebrated! Click here to help guide us in planning as we look forward to National School Breakfast Week 2025 – Mahalo!
| |
System Update: TX-UNPS CEP Eligibility Criteria Updated
TDA has completed a system update in TX-UNPS to reflect the change in Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) eligibility from 40% to 25% Identified Student Percentage (ISP). On-screen indicators on the CEP Site Eligibility Report now reflect the updated eligibility criteria.
The Child Nutrition Database (CNDB) is a required database for nutrient analysis software approved by USDA for use in school meals. Click the headline for action steps.
| |
On March 9, 2024, the 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law that provides new guidelines for School Nutrition Program sodium targets, service of low-fat flavored milk, vegetable substitutions in the School Breakfast Program, procurement of poultry from China, and NSLP Paid Lunch Equity requirements for School Year 2024-2025.
SSO reviews being scheduled for Summer 2024
TDA is currently scheduling reviews for the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) programs being operated in Summer 2024. CEs must ensure that their application in TX-UNPS to operate SSO is submitted timely.
| |
Users with existing eAuth accounts will be required to transition to Login.gov to access WBSCM in coming months. Login.gov will provide added security benefits to protect your personal information.
Several sections of the Administrator's Reference Manual (ARM) are currently being revised and planned for release in April. TDA will notify CEs and ESCs once available.
| |
Join the Texas SHAC Network!
As required by Texas law, every school district must have a School Health Advisory Council (SHAC). The Texas SHAC Network was created to provide resources and network opportunities for local SHACs across the state. To learn more about Texas SHAC and available resources, visit here.
| |
Collaborate with TDA, ESCs and your peers at TDA’s MEGACON! Join us May 14-16 in Austin for the networking roundtables and much more. MegaCon offers countless ways to get a better understanding of guidelines for federal food nutrition programs. A PRELIMINARY AGENDA is available now. Register today!
Visit SquareMeals.org for more information.
Farm Fresh at MegaCon
TDA’s Farm Fresh team will have two sessions at MegaCon this year. Farm Fresh Foundations will present an overview of the Texas Farm to School programs and important updates. The second session features a panel of child nutrition directors and Farm Fresh experts sharing how to get started with Farm Fresh activities. The panel will be followed by a roundtable session to answer your questions about Farm Fresh activities. Please submit any Farm Fresh MegaCon session questions you have here.
| |
Next LFS Office Hours:
The Local Food for Schools (LFS) team has the fourth office hours meeting scheduled for April 10, 2024 from 3-4 p.m. CST. Grant recipients will receive the zoom link via email and LFS monthly e-blast. If you’d like to view the recorded sessions and slides from January’s office hours, please visit the
LFS webpage. If you are participating in the LFS grant and are not receiving communications, contact localfoodgrant@texasagriculture.gov.
Food Service Management Company (FSMC) Fridays
TDA is hosting monthly Contracting with a Food Service Management Company (FSMC) Q&A Sessions throughout Spring 2024. The webinars cover topics related to contracting with an FSMC and CE representatives will be able to get answers to FSMC-contract questions. Invitations have been sent to superintendents and contract managers overseeing the FSMC contract. Sessions are scheduled for the third Friday of each month from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.:
- April 19, 2024
- May 17, 2024
Food Service Management Company (FSMC) Contract Due Dates
The due dates for the FSMC contract renewal or new contracts can be found here.
| |
Help TDA support Farm Fresh Programming by taking our short survey
TDA has created a short (5–10 minutes) survey for Farm Fresh programming. This year’s survey is less time-consumings. Respondents can remain anonymous. Please take a few minutes to complete the form here: Farm Fresh Survey ‘24
| |
NEW DUE DATE - NSLP Annual Financial Report Due May 3, 2024
2024 Annual NSLP Financial Report (FY2022-2023 Data) opened January 1, 2024, and is now due by May 3, 2024. The 2024 Annual NSLP Financial Report will be completed via this link. Additional Resources may be located at this link.
| |
Grant Opportunity: Oliver Foundation Healthy Choices Grant
The Oliver Foundation Healthy Choices Grants are open for 2024! Funding will be awarded to applicants aiming to improve child nutrition and physical activity through innovative programs. Learn more about the grant opportunities and apply here – Deadline for applications is April 15.
ICN - Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) Sessions are Now Open! Register for Spring VILT sessions. Topics include preventing foodborne illness, Buy American, forecasting, infant meal pattern requirements, grain ounce equivalents, and more. Sessions fill quickly – Register today!
Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards The Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards spotlights schools' innovative practices and efforts in improving the nutritional quality of their school meals. Awardees receive national recognition and a travel stipend to attend an exclusive national healthy meals summit in Las Vegas in April. Visit here to learn about recognition award criteria, view past informational webinars, and register for upcoming sessions.
| |
USDA Foods Ordering Updates
SY 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.
Non-Pilot Group – An avenue to spend down entitlement is to regularly check the TX-UNPS Delivery Order screen. Surplus cases draw down unspent entitlement dollars by selecting cases in the Surplus Order Qty. column.
TX-UNPS Weekly Commodity Bulletin - Positive entitlement value in the Processing Reserved Remaining field can be transferred over to Entitlement Remaining to help gauge total unspent dollars.
Pilot Group – The TDA, Contracted Warehouse, Gold Star Foods offers surplus cases through on-going “Advertisements” through their system. Should you have questions, please reach out to the NSLP coordinator at the warehouse or contact your Education Service Center for guidance.
SY 2024-2025
As of March 1, all catalogs have been closed in the WBSCM system. Schools no longer have access to the NSLP catalog module under Domestic Order Entry. During this time, the ordering team is adjusting requisitions in the system. This may involve the following status changes:
• Requests that potentially show the status changed to cancelled as we adjust and re-enter information.
• Delivery Date changes
• Quantity Requested
TDA will communicate the final results of round 1 anticipated in early May, but no later than early 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.
| |
Per current federal and state guidelines, your inventory levels may not exceed a 6 Months-On-Hand level. Once your requested inventory is allocated to your account, ensure you utilize it by placing delivery orders. By ordering your inventory, you are reducing your overall inventory and remaining compliant with federal and state guidelines. Click here for more information
| |
|
|
|
|
|
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
COMMISSIONER SID MILLER
This product was funded by USDA.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. |
|
|
|
|