commercially, you may be able to replace with an end item containing USDA Foods – and then you can receive a credit from your distributor. • Strive to divert what you will use and use what you divert. The American Commodity Distribution Association (ACDA) is a non-profit professional association devoted to the improvement of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) commodity distribution system through education and collaboration. ACDA members include association agencies that distribute USDA Foods; agricultural organizations; recipient agencies, such as schools; industry groups, such as food manufacturers and processors; and allied organizations, such as non-profit anti-hunger groups. To learn more about maximizing your commodity dollars and other USDA Food programs, visit our website at www. commodityfoods.org and join us for the ACDA Annual Conference, April 16-19, 2023 in Anaheim, California.
reasonable amount of time. This is a juggling act for all states. If you have questions or comments for your State Agency, you can contact them and have a discussion as to how the program is run in your state. If your State Agency has an advisory committee, consider participating on that committee to help advise them on the USDA Foods Programs. Ideas you can consider to maximize the use of your funds: • Plan your menus for the year. • Refer to the USDA Foods Available List for SY23-24. • Review your menus comparing it to the foods available from your State Agency. • Plan to use USDA Foods for items you are already using in your menus. • Based on your District’s history and future menu requirements, determine your entitlement spend for DoD, Direct Delivery, and Processing. • Consider using the DoD Fresh program to find locally grown products. • Direct Delivered end items may work well for your menus. • Processing USDA Foods allows you to receive credits on products you already buy commercially. For example, if you purchase chicken nuggets
27
Powered by FlippingBook