Education

Nutrition Programs - Commodities

Statewide Outcome(s):

Commodities supports the following statewide outcome(s).

Minnesotans are healthy.

Minnesotans have the education and skills needed to achieve their goals.

Context:

The commodity program began in the early 1930’s as an outgrowth of federal agriculture policies designed to shore up farm prices and help American farmers suffering from the economic upheaval of the Great Depression. When the National School Lunch Act was passed in 1946, it had as its stated purpose not only to improve the health of children but also to provide a market for agricultural production. The federal government provides funding for the program.

Strategies:

The federal Child Nutrition Commodity Program purchases surplus commodities from domestic agricultural producers to provide nutritious food to the National School Lunch Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program. Purchased commodities must be of domestic origin, and nearly 60 percent of the foods must be determined by USDA to be in surplus at time of purchase.

Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) receive commodity foods, called “entitlement” foods, at a value of 22.75 cents for each lunch served. Schools can also get “bonus” commodities such as meat, cheese, poultry, grains, rice, fruits and vegetables, as they are available through USDA. These foods are offered periodically, but only as they become available through agricultural surpluses. Minnesota schools receive an estimated 26 million pounds of commodity foods each year.

A state revolving fund was established in 2001 for the purpose of depositing cash received for commodity donated foods that have been lost, damaged, recalled or diverted for processing. Minnesota uses the fund to issue payments for the value of the lost, damaged, recalled or diverted commodity donated foods and related costs (124D.1195).

Results:

A variety of nutritious foods continue to be offered to and consumed by children participating in child nutrition programs.

Performance Measures Notes:

1.     USDA, Electronic Commodity Ordering System (ECOS) compares Previous: FY 2010 / Current: FY 2011