The TDA Food and Nutrition Division recently simplified navigation for SquareMeals.org. Use this helpful information sheet to quickly find your way around the website changes.
On March 9, 2021, USDA extended several nationwide waiver flexibilities for the summer meals programs until school resumes at the end of summer. TDA opted into the extensions. Note that these waiver extensions apply to SFSP and SSO only. Waivers for CACFP have not been extended beyond June 30, 2021 at this time.
After June 30, 2021, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) will conduct a redistribution of pounds for all Contracting Entity (CE) accounts participating in USDA Foods for further Processing. Through this process, TDA will redistribute all CE inventories into the State accounts. State account pounds will be made available to cover any delayed deliveries, and the remaining balances will be applied towards future truck ordering. Click for more information.
Applications for the 2021/2022 CACFP Input Group are now open. Every other month, Input Workgroup members meet virtually to gather input and discuss the current challenges and opportunities for CACFP in Texas. The input and feedback from these meetings help guide TDA as we work to provide the resources and trainings CACFP CEs need to successfully operate the CACFP in Texas. Click here to learn more about the CACFP Input Workgroup. Applications are due on Friday, April 23, 2021.
The Texas Department of Agriculture has received some waivers from USDA to support the continued operation of meal service in response to coronavirus. Other waivers are not yet approved. Any information regarding USDA waivers related to meal service will be available at SquareMeals.org/coronavirus along with further instructions.
ACTION REQUIRED: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service recently updated its Civil Rights webpage resulting in changes to the internal hyperlinks within the Nondiscrimination Statement (NDS) as well as the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form. If you have not done so already, please update the electronic versions of the NDS with the English and/or Spanish versions. These changes were required to be completed no later than January 31, 2021.
A federal court ruling earlier this year has reversed several NSLP/SBP meal pattern flexibilities. As a result the following meal pattern changes are effective immediately. Follow this link for more information.
Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) will not be taking “And Justice For All..." (AJFA) poster orders through TX-UNPS and will not be distributing posters to contracting entities (CE). Locally printed paper copies AJFA posters may substituted as necessary.