USDA Foods Challenge

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Earn Your Prime Player title by participating in the USDA Foods Challenge!

TDA has completed the first USDA Foods Challenge. Schools that effectively used 95% of their allocation of foods/brown box through the USDA Foods program earned Prime Player recognition.
Benefits of Effectively using USDA Foods

Serve meals that include quality American grown products at a discounted price.
Effectively manage child nutrition budgets.
More easily navigate delayed processing timelines.

Announcing the 2023 Prime Players

Congratulations to our Prime Players! The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has recognized these National School Lunch Program contracting entities for using at least 95% of their allocated entitlement to feed students nutritious meals using USDA Foods agricultural products. It's an impressive feat showcasing their in-depth knowledge of USDA Foods and how to create meals that not only appeal to students but also utilize their financial comprehension of operating a foodservice program in this current environment. TDA is creating a summary that will share best practices so more schools can earn Prime Player recognition.

Contracting Entity	ESC Region	Percent Entitlement Used
Alvarado ISD	11	100
Bowie ISD	9	109.5
Braination, Inc.	20	99.6
Clear Creek ISD	4	126.32
Crawford ISD	12	118.68
Florence ISD	13	97.58
Gatesville ISD	12	97.76
Gorman ISD	14	100.31
Granbury ISD	11	99.44
Jefferson ISD	8	99.72

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USDA Foods Challenge Requirements

TDA Recognition

Prime Players receive the following:

A letter from Commissioner Sid Miller
A letter from the TDA Assistant Commissioner Lena Wilson
A certificate
Powerpoint with talking points to present at school board meetings school accomplishments

Prime Players Have Access to the Following Digital marketing materials:

Logo with USDA Foods Challenge
Certificate to send to specific employees who made it possible
Website banner
Website button
Badge of honor to display on school website

USDA Foods Challenge Resources

Assistance available in English and Spanish. Please call 877-TEX-MEAL* (877-839-6325) for help.*
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/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.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.