News from the WI USDA Food Distribution Program http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/commoditymail.html en-us antonio.ante@dpi.wi.gov USDA Foods Team does not have the necessary information from USDA to create and open the Wisconsin SY 2013-14 annual online order survey. Therefore, the SY 2013-14 annual online order survey will NOT open on February 11, 2013, as originally indicated. http://fns.dpi.wi.gov/files/fns/pdf/annualorder1314_delay.pdf Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:03:00 CST USDA has alerted Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) that peanut butter from Sunland, Inc. used in the USDA Foods program is being placed on hold. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/commodityrecall.html Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:30:00 CDT DPI was recently notified by USDA that the 12 percent minimum Federal assistance requirement was not met for SY 2012-13. To offset this shortfall, USDA is allowing states to spend additional SY 2012-13 entitlement dollars. Therefore, a second order/survey is scheduled for September 17, 2012 through September 27, 2012. All SFAs who want to receive additional USDA Foods during the SY 2012-13 MUST place this second order by September 27, 2012. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/annualsurvey.html Wed, 12 Sep 2012 11:30:00 CDT Policy and Procedures, Delivery Service FAQ, DoD Fresh Produce Update. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/pdf/bts_sy1213.pdf Thu, 16 Aug 2012 07:45:00 CDT USDA is continuing to require states to place fruit and vegetable orders for the first several months of SY 2013-14. Therefore, a Wisconsin USDA Foods Order (Survey) #2 will be available in Program Year 2014 from April 23, 2012 through May 4, 2012. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/annualsurvey.html Fri, 20 Apr 2012 07:00:00 CDT In response to requests from school districts across the country, the USDA announced on March 15, 2012 that it will offer more choices to schools in the National School Lunch Program when it comes to purchases of ground beef products. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) takes the health and safety of our students very seriously. Therefore, based on this USDA announcement, DPI has made the decision to only order USDA Foods beef products without LFTB, effective for the 2012-13 School Year. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/pdf/usda_lftb_update_031612.pdf Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:40:00 CDT As a result of national media coverage regarding LFBT, USDA has provided DPI with the following information regarding LFBT. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/pdf/usda_lftb_info_030912.pdf Fri, 08 Mar 2012 15:30:00 CST USDA is continuing to experience difficulties with the purchasing of canned and frozen fruits and vegetables. Fruit and vegetable vendors will no longer produce and pack products without an advanced contract and guaranteed volume. USDA is requiring states to place fruit and vegetable orders for the first several months of SY 2013-14 by the beginning of March 2012. Therefore, a Wisconsin USDA Foods Order (Survey) #1 will be available in Program Year 2014 from Feb 15 - 27, 2012. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/annualsurvey.html Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:00:00 CST USDA has just informed the DPI regarding important information on the procurement of Turkey Roasts, Oven Roasted chicken, Fruits and Vegetables. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/pdf/annual_order_update_sy1213.pdf Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:10:00 CST The annual ordering period is now open (January 15 - February 10, 2012). Agencies participating in the USDA Food Program must place their order for the following school year during the annual ordering period. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/annualsurvey.html Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:05:00 CST Agencies participating in the USDA Food Program must place their order for the following school year during the annual ordering period. The USDA Foods have not been officially released by USDA. Therefore, both the Annual Ordering Period (January 15 - February 10, 2012) and the list of available USDA Foods posted on the website are "tentative". The official Annual Ordering Period and list of USDA Foods available for School Year 2012-13 will be both posted on the web-site and mailed to all participating schools the first week in January 2012. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/annualsurvey.html Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:10:00 CST DPI will be offering a training session specifically for new Food Service Staff and programs new to the USDA Foods program. This training session will be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at DPI. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/training.html#commodity Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:30:00 CDT As a result of School Year (SY) 2011-12 entitlement updates and recent USDA Foods cancellations, some SFAs have unspent/remaining SY 2011-12 (Program Year 2012) yearly entitlement dollars in the Wisconsin USDA Food Program. The ordering period of USDA Foods as well as DoD Produce allocation will be available November 7, 2011 – November 11, 2011. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/annualsurvey.html Thu, 3 Nov 2011 10:35:00 CDT The yearly available entitlements for SY 2011-12 have now been adjusted to reflect the prior year's meal counts (SY 2010-11). In addition, the available entitlements for SY 2011-12 have also been updated to reflect the USDA SY 2011-12 published per meal rate of $.2225. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/pdf/yearly_ent_update_ltr_sy1112.pdf Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:15:00 CDT The state of Wisconsin has received two different shipments of the whole grain pancakes with varying case and serving sizes: material ID 100937 and material ID 101022. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/pdf/whole_grain_pancakes_change.pdf Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:05:00 CDT The contact information for the Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Produce Program has changed from Jane Boyle to Jane McAvoy. Please change the email address to: jane.mcavoy@dla.mil. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/dodfresh.html Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:15:00 CDT The Wisconsin USDA Food Distribution Team has added a Calendar webpage of important events occuring during School Year 2011-12. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/programtimelines.html Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:45:00 CDT All schools ordering USDA foods will again have the option of participating in a direct diversion processing program for the 2012-13 school year. The USDA Foods team will be conducting training and holding a Food Show on October 4, 2011. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/doc/directdiversion_1213.doc Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:20:00 CDT There is a change in the USDA Food Program handling charge rates for the 2011-12 school year. The storage handling fee rate is decreasing from $.0247/gross lb. to $.0147/gross lb. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/doc/handling_charges.doc Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:20:00 CDT USDA has made the decision to discontinue use of the word “Commodities,” and replace it with the words “USDA Foods. Effective for school year 2011-12, USDA is changing the product coding format for all USDA foods. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/doc/usda_update_sy1112.doc Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:10:00 CDT The Commodity Task Force (CTF) was formed in 1997. The mission of the CTF is to provide guidance and representation of statewide interest. If you are interested in serving on this task force, please complete the interest form and return to DPI by March 4, 2011. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/taskforce.html Tue, 08 Feb 2011 09:17:00 CST Due to significant price increases of commodities (primarily the protein commodities), the yearly available entitlement reflected on the “Survey” tab (under Program Year 2011) in the “Commodity Internet Order System” does not accurately reflect your agency’s true available entitlement. http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/doc/cars_rpt_updt_sy1011.doc Fri, 04 Feb 2011 11:45:00 CST