National School Lunch Program

Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program receive entitlement funds based on meal participation. These entitlement dollars are used to order USDA foods. If your school does not currently participate in the NSLP, contact the New York State Education Department at 518-473-8781 to begin the process.

All new food service directors in a school that currently participates in NSLP should email [email protected] to inform OGS Food Distribution of your new status. Be sure to include your school code and phone number. OGS Food Distribution will email you the tools and guidance needed to access WBSCM and order your USDA foods.

OGS Food Distribution will send you guidance on:

• Setting your account up in the Web-Based Supply Chain Management system (WBSCM)
• USDA Foods available to order
• Order by dates

Additional Information

• Overview of USDA Foods in Schools presented by OGS Food Distribution
• Recorded Version of Presentation is Available
• NSLP USDA Product Information Sheets
• USDA Whitepaper, February 2016
• Receiving USDA Foods Document

download timeline

Key Terms

July - Beginning of School Year (July 1st)

• Attend the Managing Your Child Nutrition Program Training hosted by New York State
• Education Department (NYSED) in Verona, New York.
• USDA Direct Delivery - Email your school calendar to your distributor and other vendors.
• USDA DoD Fresh - 12-month school districts begin.
• USDA Pilot Program - 12-month school districts begin.
• USDA DoD Fresh for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) - begins (July 1st – September 30th).
• USDA publishes annual meal rate.
   

August

• Attend Back to School Trainings for New Food Service Directors (NYSED).
• Run Requisition Status Report in WBSCM to review USDA Foods orders.
• Contact OGS if your Food Service Director or contact information has changed.
• USDA Direct Diversion - Review https://www.k12foodservice.com/ (K12) & https://www.processorlink.com/ (PL) to ensure pound and distributors are correct.
• USDA Direct Delivery - Your distributor will email you the annual delivery schedule.
   

September

• Run the Entitlement/Bonus Summary Report in WBSCM to view current entitlement balance.
• Run a Requisition Status Report in WBSCM and compare against your distributor’s weekly report.
• USDA Direct Delivery - Products will begin arriving at your distributor and your distributor should begin delivering to you.
• USDA Direct Diversion - Review K12 and PL to ensure pounds are being utilized (recommended 10% per month). Compare against WBSCM 
• USDA DoD Fresh for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) - ends September 30th. All deliveries and receipts must be completed.
   

October

• Run the Entitlement/Bonus Summary Report in WBSCM to view current entitlement balance.
• Attend New York School Nutrition Association (NYSNA) Annual Conference.
• USDA Direct Diversion - Review K12 and PL to ensure pounds are being utilized (recommended 10% per month). Compare against WBSCM.
• USDA Direct Diversion - Start thinking about the procurement process for next school year.
   

November

• Attend Regional Industry Seminars (RIS) in your region hosted by NYSNA. 
• USDA Direct Diversion - Start procurement process for processors for next school year.
• USDA Direct Diversion - Review K12 and PL to ensure pounds are being utilized (recommended 10% per month). Compare against WBSCM.
• USDA Direct Diversion – Start thinking about what you might want to request to give back during December’s Voluntary USDA Direct Diversion Sweep.
   

December

• Attend Regional Industry Seminars (RIS) in your region hosted by NYSNA. 
• USDA Direct Diversion - Procurement for processors should be in place for next school year.
• USDA Direct Diversion - Review K12 and PL to ensure pounds are being utilized (recommended 10% per month). Compare against WBSCM.
• USDA Direct Diversion - Voluntary USDA Diversion (Processing) Sweep.
   

January

• USDA Direct Delivery - Food Preference Survey (mandatory) – Submit response.
• USDA Direct Diversion - Mandatory Sweep (Must be at 40% usage or more by January 31st).
• USDA Direct Diversion - Review K12 and PL to ensure pounds are being utilized (recommended 10% per month). Compare against WBSCM.
   

February/March – Ordering USDA Foods

• USDA Direct Delivery and/or USDA Direct Diversion - Submit your district’s order request for next school year in WBSCM.
• USDA Direct Diversion - Review K12 and PL to ensure pounds are being utilized (recommended 10% per month). Compare against WBSCM.
   

April

• Attend the American Commodity Distribution Association (ACDA) Annual Conference.
• USDA Direct Delivery - Redistribution Deadline (TBD in April).
• Review the Requisition Status Report in WBSCM and your distributors weekly report to determine if you need to request to redistribute products you cannot accept delivery of by the first week of June. Redistribution requests must be submitted by the deadline (TBD in April)
• USDA Direct Diversion - Review K12 and PL to ensure pounds are being utilized (recommended 10% per month). Compare against WBSCM. Ensure all pounds will be used by June 30th. 
• USDA DoD Fresh and/or USDA Pilot Program - Submit allocation for next school year.
• Once OGS submits USDA Direct Delivery and USDA Direct Diversion orders to USDA, you will receive an email allowing school districts to allocate entitlement to USDA DoD Fresh and USDA Pilot Program for next school year. 
   

May

• USDA Direct Delivery - Communicate and finalize a schedule for delivery of all remaining products to your school district by Delivery Deadline (TBD) the end of the first week of June.
• USDA Direct Diversion - Review K12 and PL to ensure pounds are being utilized (recommended 10% per month). Compare against WBSCM. Ensure all pounds will be used by June 30th. 
   

June – End of the School year (June 30th)

Assessment Fee information will be gathered and emailed to schools in July (if applicable)

• USDA Direct Delivery - Delivery deadline is the first week of June. All remaining products must be delivered to your school district.
• USDA Direct Diversion - Mandatory Sweep (All unused lbs. will be swept at the end of June)
• Reporting for Business Offices (End of June)
  • Value of Commodities Received Report in WBSCM 
  • Usage Report in FFAVORS
  • If you participate in USDA Pilot Program, refer to your records, such as invoices, for the value of USDA Pilot Program
     

Questions? Contact Us: 

OGS Food Distribution
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (518) 474-5122
Hours: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday

School Year 2025-2026 

USDA Direct Delivery (Brown Box) & USDA Direct Diversion (Processing) ordering for the 2025-2026 School Year opens February 10, 2025.

• USDA Direct Delivery (Brown Box) Ordering Worksheet
• USDA Direct Diversion (Processing) Ordering Worksheet
• Kosher Co-op Ordering Worksheet

Please submit all USDA Direct Delivery (Brown Box) and USDA Direct Diversion (Processing) orders in WBSCM by close of business March 7, 2025.

Available Ordering Training

• OGS's Ordering Worksheets Training
  • USDA Direct Delivery (Brown Box) Ordering Worksheet Training
  • USDA Direct Delivery (Kosher Brown Box) Ordering Worksheet Training
  • Ordering USDA Foods – Ordering Direct Diversion (aka Processing)
• OGS’s Ordering Worksheet Training Guide Printouts
  • USDA Direct Delivery (Brown Box) Ordering Worksheet Guide
  • USDA Direct Delivery (Kosher Brown Box) Ordering Worksheet Guide
• Ordering USDA Foods Help
  • Every Tuesday & Thursday starting February 11, 2025, through March 6, 2025, OGS Food Distribution will be available for LIVE help via Webex.
  • You do not need to stay the entire day, just for as long as you need to get your specific question answered.
  • Log on anytime between 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
• Starting this year, ordering training will be provided by your School Lunch Advisory Council (SLAC) representative. 
• Visit the Training & Resources section and search for "Ordering" for online training. USDA product information is available via the USDA Foods Database.

Important Changes/Notes:

• Allocations to the USDA DoD Fresh and/or USDA Pilot Programs will not occur until after OGS has submitted USDA Direct Delivery (Brown Box) and USDA Direct Diversion (Processing) orders to the USDA. In April, your district will receive an email from our office asking for the allocation request to load your beginning allocation for the 2025-2026 school year.
• All Advance Pierre beef, pork and peanut butter commodities as well as Bosco cheese items are now listed under Tyson Prepared Foods on the first tab of the diversion worksheet.

How to Order USDA Foods

Ordering USDA Foods for next school year occurs in February and March, after the Food Preference Survey in January.

The General Ordering Process

1. Participate in USDA Food Ordering Training.
You will receive communication about training opportunities leading up to and throughout the ordering period.

2. Ordering Begins.
Once ordering opens, you will receive communication from OGS with the Ordering Worksheets and any updates.

Complete the Ordering Worksheet(s).

Once ordering opens, you will receive communication from OGS. Before you submit your order, you must first complete OGS’s Ordering Worksheets. These are meant to assist you with planning and submitting your order.

3. Log in to the Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM).

Once you’ve completed the ordering worksheet(s), you must place your order in WBSCM.

4. USDA Direct Delivery (Brown Box & Kosher Brown Box).

Use the USDA Direct Delivery (Brown Box & Kosher Brown Box) Ordering Worksheet, along with your planned menu, and records from previous school years to submit your order.

When all the orders are collected, OGS works through a process to determine the best way to submit the orders to USDA.

Due to these requirements, your orders may be adjusted in quantity or consolidated into a different delivery period. If these criteria cannot be met, the order must be cancelled.

Note: This includes all brown box products. I.e., non-kosher, commercial Kosher, and Kosher products for the Kosher Co-op (Area H).

5. USDA Direct Diversion (Processing) – Area’s A, C, D, E, F, G, J, K, W only.

Use the USDA Direct Diversion (Processing) Ordering Worksheet, along with your planned menu, and records from previous school years to submit your order.

If your order is cancelled, a second limited ordering period will occur (dates TBD) to allow schools the opportunity to reorder to the correct processor or select a different material.

If NY has enough carry-over pounds, your order may be cancelled, and pounds allocated to your district in K12 and ProcessorLink.

You will receive an email if you are impacted by cancellations.

6. Submit Orders

Once you submit your orders, log into WBSCM and run the Requisition Status Report for your records.

Your orders are likely to change after being submitted as OGS works through the process of submitting orders to USDA.

7. Ordering Closes

Orders for USDA Direct Delivery (Brown Box & Kosher Brown Box) are due by the due date provided by OGS. Orders will not be accepted after this date. No exceptions.

8. After Ordering: USDA DoD Fresh Program.

Allocations for USDA DoD Fresh program will not be processed during the ordering period. OGS will solicit your school district for your beginning allocation to the program in early/mid-April.  

9. After Ordering: USDA Pilot Program - Area’s A, C, D, E, F, G, J only.

Allocations for USDA Pilot Project will not be processed during the ordering period. OGS will solicit your school district for your beginning allocation to the program in early/mid-April.  

10. After Ordering: June/July – Run the Requisition Status Report

In June/July, run the Requisition Status Report in WBSCM to view your orders. At this point, your orders have been reviewed and submitted to USDA.

Previous School Year Information

The USDA Foods processing program allows schools to contract with commercial Food Processors to convert raw bulk USDA Foods into more convenient, ready-to-use end products. These end products are produced under controlled conditions and strong food safety standards. Processing can be a cost-effective option when used wisely.

Process USDA FOODS

In December 2021, the USDA announced a Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Bonus. OGS Food Distribution allocated a portion of this USDA Food Bonus towards the USDA DoD Fresh Program (DoD). CCC Bonus DoD will be allocated as a lump sum in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Order Receipt System (FFAVORS). All school orders will draw down from the lump sum for orders placed between July 1 – Sept. 30 or until the bonus is depleted. For additional information watch this short video.

USDA’s DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program allows districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to utilize USDA entitlement to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables through the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Order Receipt System (FFAVORS). If you have questions about this program please email [email protected]. 

• To join the USDA’s DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for the first time ever, please email [email protected].
• To request an increase/decrease to your DoD Fresh allocation please complete this survey.
• FFAVORS Customer Ordering Manual
• DoD Fresh Program Guidance for Frank Gargiulo & Son's, Inc. 
• DoD Fresh Program Guidance for Latina Boulevard Foods, LLC.
• FFAVORS Login
• Training videos about using FFAVORS including ordering, receipting, and running reports are available at the link below.

Watch FFAVORS Training Videos

The purpose of CACFP is to improve the nutritional quality of meals served to children in child care centers and child care homes, and adults in day care. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds the New York State Department of Health to provide reimbursement for meals and snacks served in licensed non-profit, for-profit, or public centers or licensed/registered child care homes.

The program improves the nutritional quality of meals and snacks in three ways:

1. Setting requirements for the kind and amount of food to be served.
2. Providing money (reimbursement) to eligible programs and providers for meals that meet requirements.
3. Requiring periodic training and monitoring for staff in participating organizations.

To Participate:

Child care home providers must sign up with a state-approved sponsor. Centers must be licensed, non-profit, or public and may apply for themselves or participate through a sponsor that meets the same requirements. Centers, child care home providers, and sponsors should contact the New York State Department of Health for details on program participation or to see if your program is eligible to participate.

You can contact the New York State Department of Health at:

• Phone: 518-402-7400
• Web: www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/cacfp/
• Email: [email protected]

SLAC is a council hosted by Office of General Services (OGS) with the purpose of improving the USDA Foods programs in school districts active in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The council includes a representative from a school district in each OGS distribution area, relevant state agencies, and the New York School Nutrition Association (NYSNA).

Representatives commit to a three (3) year term, attend three (3) annual meetings, conduct training, participate in improvement efforts, and serve as their area’s representative. To be eligible to volunteer as a representative, you must be a food service professional (director or business official) working at an eligible school district.

For more information about this opportunity, please contact [email protected].

Most Recent Meeting Notes & Presentations:

Meeting Notes:

• September 20, 2024 SLAC Meeting Notes
• January 24, 2025 SLAC Meeting Notes
• May 13, 2025 SLAC Meeting Notes

Presentations:

• NY State Education Department (NYSED)
• NY School Nutrition Association (NYSNA)
• NYS Agriculture & Markets (NYSAGM)
• NYS OGS Food Distribution (NYSOGS FD)

Guest Organizations:

• Affinity Sales - Procurement and Direct Diversion
• American Commodity Distribution Association (ACDA)
• ACDA for Recipient Agencies Brochure
• ACDA Recipient Agencies Insert

Meeting Schedule:

• Meeting 1 (Fall) – September
• Meeting 2 (Winter) – January
• Meeting 3 (Spring) – May

** Official meeting dates will be communicated through Chef Jeff’s Corner publication. To receive Chef Jeff’s Corner, please contact [email protected].

Council Members

Download the SY2022-23 SLAC Contact List here.

Each year, prior to ordering USDA Foods, Food Distribution conducts the Food Preference Survey to collect feedback from each school districts regarding product preference. This survey is used to assist in determining the best options for USDA Direct Delivery (brown box) products offered for ordering.

Survey Instructions & Worksheets

• Food Preference Survey Worksheet
• Food Preference Survey Instructions
   

Food Preference Survey Training

• Introduction & Overview (Part 1 of 3)
• Food Preference Survey Worksheet (Part 2 of 3)
• Submitting Your Survey Response (Part 3 of 3)
   

Survey Results

• Food Preference Survey Results (PDF)
• Food Preference Survey Results (Excel)

USDA Commodity Complaints for USDA Direct Delivery (brown box) products may be submitted through OGS’s online USDA Foods Commodity Complaint form.

What is a USDA Commodity Complaint?

If a product your organization receives does not meet expectations, raises food safety concerns, or is damage or otherwise out-of-condition, please submit a complaint.

How do I submit a complaint?

1. Take pictures of the effected product or subject of the complaint AND all sides of the product’s box.

2. Submit your complaint:

   a. USDA Foods Commodity Complaint

Alternate Method

If you do not wish to use the online complaint form, you may complete the traditional USDA Commodity Complaint Form with pictures to [email protected]. Please include ‘Commodity Complaint’ in the subject line.  

How do I add the USDA Foods Commodity Complaint to the home screen of my phone?

Scan the QR code below or visit USDA Foods Commodity Complaint.

Phone	Directions	Share Icon
iPhone	Click the "Share" then click add to home screen.
Android	Click the 3 dots for browser settings, then add to home.

Overview

The OGS USDA Foods Marketplace is available for school districts participating of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in OGS distribution areas A, C, D, E, F, G, J, K, L,  and W. The marketplace offers available USDA Direct Delivery products for available USDA entitlement.

Training

Before you start participating in the marketplace, please watch the OGS USDA Foods Marketplace Announcement & Training  training video.

Requesting an Order

1. Offerings accompany Chef Jeff’s Corner.
2. Before requesting each order, run the Entitlement/Bonus Summary Report to ensure you have available USDA entitlement for your order request.

What did my district receive?

Awarded product will appear on the Requisition Status Report the week after each offering.

Schools that have opted in to receiving WBSCM Requisition Change Notification emails will see new changes to their allocations (including marketplace adjustments) in that notification.

You will not receive a formal notification from OGS.

Tentative Offering Schedule

2024-2025 Offering Schedule

** Offerings are tentative and subject to change based on product availability. Offering duration may vary.

Notices about Participation

1. All product is first-come, first-served, and may be fair-shared at the discretion of OGS. Subject to change.
2. Awarded product will automatically be shipped to your school district, in full, in your next available delivery. These products cannot be held for future deliveries, refused upon delivery, or cancelled once awarded. Please only request what you know you can accept/store immediately at your district.
3. You may remove funds from USDA DoD Fresh at anytime for use toward the marketplace.
4. Nutrition and product information is available through the USDA Foods Database.

Food Distribution Contracted Distributor Portal (CDP)