USDA Food and Nutrition Programs

Program Category

Program Name

Description

Food Distribution Programs

Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

USDA purchases commodity foods and distributes them, along with administrative funds, to state agencies and Indian tribal organizations to provide food to low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women, new mothers up to one year postpartum, infants, children up to age six years, and elderly people at least 60 years of age. (Unlike WIC, this program provides food directly; eligible persons cannot participate in both programs.)^a

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

USDA purchases commodity foods and distributes them to state agencies and Indian tribal organizations, which distribute food to low-income Native Americans residing on Indian reservations, in designated areas near reservations, or in Oklahoma Tribal Jurisdictions.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

USDA purchases commodity foods and distributes them, along with administrative funds, to state distributing agencies. These provide the food to local agencies such as food banks, which distribute the food to soup kitchens and food pantries that directly serve the public.⁶

Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP)

Although originally administered by the USDA, NSIP appropriation was transferred to the Administration on Aging in 2003. NSIP provides funding to state agencies and eligible Indian tribal organizations to be used to purchase commodity food products from the USDA for older individuals.° USDA donates additional food, called “bonus foods,” to NSIP when feasible.⁶

Child Nutrition Programs

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

USDA provides cash reimbursement, and donates agricultural foods or cash-in-lieu of donated foods to institutions that serve infants, preschool children, and children younger than 12 years in child care centers and homes, older children in at-risk afterschool programs and emergency homeless shelters, and disabled and older adults in adult day care centers. CACFP support may include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.^e

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)

USDA provides state education agencies money to reimburse low-income elementary schools nationwide for providing students with free fresh fruits and vegetables. The produce must be provided during hours outside of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program! All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands participate in FFVP.^g

Program Category

Program Name

Description

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

USDA provides state education agencies cash subsidies and donated commodities to reimburse school districts and independent schools that take part in the lunch program. Participating schools must serve lunches that meet federal requirements and offer free or reduced price lunches to income-eligible children. School food authorities can also be reimbursed for snacks served to children through age 18 years in afterschool educational or enrichment programs.^h

School Breakfast Program (SBP)

USDA provides state education agencies cash subsidies to reimburse school districts and independent schools that take part in the breakfast program. Participating schools must serve breakfasts that meet federal requirements and offer free or reduced price lunches to income- eligible children.ⁱ

Special Milk Program (SMP)

USDA provides state education agencies money to reimburse participating schools, child care institutions, and eligible camps for each half pint of pasteurized fat-free or 1% milk they serve. Participating entities agree to use the federal reimbursement to reduce the selling price of milk to all children.

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

USDA provides money to state agencies to reimburse providers who serve free healthy meals to children and teens (younger than 19 years) in low-income areas during the summer months. These meals are often combined with summer camps or activities. The goal of SFSP is to fill the gap for children who rely on the NSLP and SBP during the school year.

Supplemental

Nutrition

Assistance

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

USDA works with state agencies to provide a monthly financial allotment based on the Thrifty Food Plan that recipients can use to purchase almost any food. SNAP was formerly the Food Stamp Program, but now benefits are distributed on EBT cards, rather than through paper stamps. The USDA and state agencies additionally provide SNAP-Education based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Women, Infants, and Children Programs

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

USDA provides grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five years who are found to be at nutritional risk. The WIC package includes an established set of foods selected to be beneficial to participants, such as fruit, vegetables, yogurt, milk, and whole grains.^k

Program Category

Program Name

Description

WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)

USDA provides cash grants to state agencies that administer the program and determine eligibility of both the WIC participants and market providers.

In addition to their regular WIC benefits, FMNP WIC participants are issued FMNP coupons that can be used to buy eligible foods from farmers, farmers' markets, or roadside stands that have been approved by the state agency to accept FMNP coupons. The coupons are redeemed for reimbursement by the state agency.'

Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition

Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)

USDA awards grants to states, territories, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments to provide low-income seniors who are at least 60 years old with coupons that can be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs.^m