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Foods Distribution Program

PrimeroEdge SY 26-27 Catalog is officially closed. Please reach out to IDOE with any questions.

USDA Foods in Schools

This program provides high-quality, 100% American grown food, to schools, and institutions that participate in child nutrition programs including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), After School Snack Program (ASSP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). USDA Foods include a wide variety of high-quality fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and whole grains in canned, frozen or dried varieties.

USDA Foods are available in three options. Schools may spend their Planned Assistance Level dollars on any or all methods.

  • Direct Delivery
  • Bulk for Processing
  • USDA Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

To be eligible, school food authorities must be on the National School Lunch Program and have submitted reimbursement claims or be on the Summer Food Service Program for at least one school year or summer cycle. The school sponsor’s meals cannot be vended or catered, however, contracting  with a Food Service Management Company (FSMC) is allowable.

FNS-101: USDA Foods in Child Nutrition Programs

USDA Foods Distribution Handbook

USDA Foods in the National School Lunch Program White Paper - explains the role of USDA Foods in the National School Lunch Program.

IDOE Food Distribution Program Year At-A-Glance Calendar

Training & WebinarsChange or Update Food Service DirectorYour State Assigned Warehouse

Processors
& Processing
CompaniesInstructions for placing
Direct Delivery (Brown
Box) USDA Foods DoD Fresh Fruit
& Vegetable
Program Forms
and
Checklists PrimeroEdge
Annual Catalog
& Forecasting USDA
Foods
Available

The USDA Foods Product Information Sheets

The USDA Foods Product Information Sheets below include descriptions and are a composite of information vendors have voluntarily provided for direct delivered (formerly known as "brown box) only. Some of the products listed may not be available in Indiana. Specific information regarding products is available by contacting the individual vendor.

Video: USDA Foods Invoices, Invoice Credits and Program Fees

Excess Storage Fees and Charges

Charges will be based on the following table, which represent our average actual contract costs for the current year:

Type of StorageCost of StorageHow Often Will it Be Charged?
Dry $1.00 Monthly, per case
Cooler $1.10 Monthly, per case
Freezer $1.20 Monthly, per case

Administrative Fees

Type of FeesFee AmountHow/How Often Will it Be Charged?
Administrative Fees for Direct Delivered (Brown Box) $5.40 Per case
Administrative Fees for Pounds Sent to Processors $.01 cent Per pound, charged one time per year

Warehouse Delivery Drop Fees

Type of FeesFee AmountHow/How Often Will it Be Charged?
State Assigned Warehouse Delivery Drop Fees $15.00 For each site that has less than 10 cases delivered

Expire DatesClose Dates
  • The expire date is listed in the CNPweb FDP link in the fifth column under the Inventory tab.
  • It is the latest date that direct delivered (brown box) USDA Foods must be delivered by the state assigned warehouse to the SFA to avoid excess storage fees.
  • This is approximately 45 days after the USDA Food has been allocated into the SFA’s inventory.
  • Excess storage fees can be avoided if the USDA Foods are delivered to the SFA’s delivery sites before the expire date.
  • For more information on excess storage fee amounts, please visit https://www.in.gov/doe/nutrition/foods-distribution-program/ under the “USDA Foods Program Fees” dropdown box.
  • The close date is listed in the CNPweb FDP link in the sixth column under the Inventory tab.
  • The latest date a USDA Food can remain an SFA’s inventory before it is swept and placed into surplus for redistribution to other schools.
  • This is approximately 6 months after the USDA Foods have been allocated into the SFA’s inventory.
  • Cleared allocations can be avoided by placing USDA Foods on an order form and having the product delivered to the SFA’s sites before the close date.

School Year 2026

The effective published rate for the period July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 is $0.45 cents per meal for NSLP schools. This includes the estimated per meal rate (.30.50 cents) PLUS the 12% provision dollars, and the $20 Million breakfast dollars. This matches the rate that was previously estimated and entered for SY 2025.

Quick Access
CNPweb

Contact
Cheryl Moore, for Direct Delivered USDA Foods cmoore@doe.in.gov
Brian Lafayette, for USDA Foods Inventory blafayette@doe.in.gov
Linda Smith, for Processed USDA Foods lrsmith@doe.in.gov

It is the policy of the Indiana Department of Education to provide Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons and those requiring auxiliary aids (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language) meaningful access to all Child Nutrition Programs, activities, and services upon request. If you need free language or disability-related assistance, please email scncr@doe.in.gov or call (317) 232-0850.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. email:
    program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.