USDA COMMODITY PROGRAMS UPDATE

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USDA COMMODITY PROGRAMS UPDATE
Cathie McCullough, Director Food Distribution
Division, USDA
Legislative Action Conference, March 13, 2006
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IMPROVING COMMODITIES

• Enhance the foods available list to support the
  nutritional needs of recipients
• Improve customer appeal of commodities
• Provide product packaging that is appropriate,
  i.e., can size

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IMPROVING COMMODITIES

• Products are continually reviewed to ensure
  they support the
• Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• Healthier offerings
• Tuna canned in water
• Reduced fat bakery mix
• 95 lean ham

• Lower fat cheeses and oils
• Canned fruits packed in juice or light syrup
• Whole grain foods (wheat flour, brown rice,
  oats)
• Ground beef with no more than 15 fat

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IMPROVING COMMODITIES
To help meet the whole grain recommendation from
the 2005 DGAs we are researching new product
options
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IMPROVING COMMODITIES

• We are also Exploring
• Reducing trans fats
• Lowering sodium in canned
• vegetables
• Offering canned fruits only
• in natural juices or
• water

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COMMODITY FACT SHEETS GUIDANCE

• We are updating our commodity fact sheetsa
  long term project
• Surveyed States and schools for their feedback
• Adding commodity codes to current fact sheets as
  an interim measure

• We are also developing label guidance
• Explains the new Federal label requirements for
  
• trans fats and allergens

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Commodity Food Network (CFN) www.commodityfoods.us
da.gov
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CFN Key Features

• One-Stop Commodity Portal Gives
• Instant Access to
• Key Partner websites and linkse.g. AMS, FNS,
  FSA, FSIS, ACDA, SNA, States, etc.
• Regulations, Public Laws, OMB Circulars, Forms,
  Fact Sheets, Policy Memos
• Commodity Specifications, Commercial Item
  Descriptions, Commodity Fact Sheets for Schools
• Foods Available List for All USDA Commodity
  Programs
• Food Safety Recall Updates Issued by FSIS and
  FDA
• ECOSUSDAs Electronic Commodity Ordering System
• .. And More!

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(No Transcript)
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CFN Website Feedback
Let Us Know What You Like andDont Like
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REWRITE OF 7 CFR Part 250

• Publishing 3 separate proposed rules covering
  different areas of commodity program mgmt.
• Food service mgmt. cos
• Commodity processing
• Delivery, distribution, inventory, claims, and
  other issues
• The reg. proposal process will afford States,
  local agencies, others time to commentwe
  welcome your comments!

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BONUS COMMODITIES

• Products offered to schools in 2005
• Sweet Potatoes
• Cranberry Products
• Apple Products
• Dehydrated Potatoes
• Peaches, Canned
• Mixed Fruit, Canned
• NFDM
• Pudding

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BONUS COMMODITIES

• Products Offered to schools in 2006
• Cherries, Frozen
• Sweet Potatoes
• Crushed Pineapple, Canned
• Dry Beans

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DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
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DoD Fresh History

• 1994/95 3.2 million pilot in 8 States
• 1996/97 use of Section 4 11 Federal funds
  authorized
• 1998/99 FNS increased entitlement set aside to
  25 million
• Since 2002 Farm Bill requires 50 million of
  entitlement to be spent annually through 2007 on
  fresh produce for schools using DoD

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DoD Fresh Program

• DoD Fresh Program is an OPTION that States may
  OFFER to schools (not required to offer)
• The Program is intended to provide SOME/MORE
  fresh produce for schools
• Section 411 funds MAY BE USED to buy more DoD
  produce in addition to the above entitlement
  purchases

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DoD Today

• 48 States, DC, VI, PR, Guam will participate in
  SY 06-07
• About 25 States utilize Section 4 11 funds on
  DoD Fresh
• SY 06-07 deliveries will be delayed until Sept 06
  as FNS switches to fiscal year allocation system
  

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DoD Changes

• DoD moving to Long-Term Contracts effective
  October 2006
• Purchasing from local small businesses whenever
  possible
• Schools will have 24/7 access to TAP-IT
  (web-based ordering system)
• Some DoD staff will remain in field to handle
  customer support complaint issues

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ECOS
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ECOS in review

• 4878 registered ECOS users
• State users - 606
• Recipient agencies - 3,818
• Industry (processors warehouses) 308
• USDA users - 146
• States using ECOS with their recipient agencies
• Recipients ordering in VA, CT, GA, NC, UT, FL,
  MD, NE, KY
• Limited use in CA, MI, NY, TN, TX

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ECOS Enhancements

• Rapid Alert System
• Provides quick communications for potential food
  safety/biosecurity emergencies
• Filter Delivery Dates for RAs
• Closer to RAs receiving what they want when they
  request it
• Consistent Unit of Measure
• Commodity that is delivered in cases will be
  ordered in cases

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ECOS Enhancements

• Shipment Receipt Function
• Large RAs/States/processors receiving direct
  commodity shipments can order and receipt thru
  ECOS
• Processor Access to Delivery Orders
• Processors have access to real-time information
  on their commodity orders and deliveries

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Coming To ECOS

• Multi-Food Ordering
• Refinements to Complaint Module
• Online Processed End-Item
• Ordering

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Questions?