Cathie McCulloughDirector

Food Distribution DivisionFNS/USDA

School Nutrition AssociationLegislative Action Conference

March 2, 2009

Food Distribution Priorities

• Web Based Supply Chain Management Transition

• DoD Fruits & Vegetable Program• USDA Foods Image Improvements

Web Based Supply Chain Management

What Is It?• Web-based replacement for 30-yr old system• Financials – payments, accounting• State Ordering• Purchasing, deliveries

• Domestic and International Programs• Affects USDA, States, some schools and food banks, industry, PVOs, USAID, and MARAD• ECOS functions will be integrated into WBSCM

What will it mean for•States•Schools•Industry

TimelineDEC 312009

GO LIVE!

APR2009

SYSTEM TESTING BEGINS

SEPT

2009

USER ACCEPTANCE TESTINGSDA ECOS USERS TRAININGRA ECOS USERS TRAINING

DEVELOPMENT

USDA FoodsDoD Fresh Program

• Funding• 2008 Farm Bill• $56 M SY 2009

• Security Certificates• 16,000 Users• $150 per user• Waiver through June 2010• WE WILL FIND ANOTHER WAY!!

USDA FoodsDoD Fresh Program

• FFAVORS vs. STORES Ordering• Eliminating FFAVORS and replacing with STORES• Waiver to keep FFAVORS until June 2010• WBSCM Ordering

• Prime Vendor Contracts• 32 States have new contracts• 15 States still have old contracts

USDA FoodsRecalls

The Peanut Recall….Big impact in the commercial world…

…Relatively small impact in the world of USDA Foods

USDA FoodsRecalls

Lessons Learned from Beef Recall: Expectation of local level notification…

Fix: Commodity Alert System• Email notices of holds/recalls

• Self register for free on USDA website:

https://www.envoyprofiles.com/USDA-ALERTS

USDA FoodsFarm Bill Benefits

More F&V MoneyDOD Fresh Cap

RemovedWhole Grain Pilot

USDA FoodBonus SY 2009 Purchases

Cut-up chicken

Bulk Chicken (processing)

Orange juice

Frozen Cherries

Canned Pear Halves

Catfish

USDA FoodsWhole Grain Pilot• Requires purchase and study ($4 million total) of additional whole grain products for school meals

• Whole grain pancakes and tortillas

• Requires acceptability study by September 2011

USDA FoodsTraining Opportunities • ACDA ANC Training Sessions

• SNA ANC USDA “Track” • State Processing Presentations• IOM & FRAC Presentations• NFSMI Satellite Seminar:

USDA Foods, America’s Finest

USDA FoodsImage Improvements

VisionTo increase participation in USDA nutrition

assistance programs by improving public perception of USDA Foods.

• School lunch and commodities cause obesity

• USDA “surplus” commodities are the culprit

• Commodities are low quality

Needs replacing with…Needs replacing with…

USDA FoodsThe Perception

• Healthy Choices and American Grown• Account for 15-20% of school food purchases• Request driven purchases• School districts are not required to accept

items they do not want

USDA FoodsThe Realities

USDA FoodsNutrition Initiatives

• Low sodium canned vegetables• Whole Grain pasta• Parboiled brown rice• Low Sat Fat Soy Bean Oil• Unsweetened Applesauce• Reduced Fat Bakery Mix• Low Fat Meats and Poultry• Reduced Fat Cheeses

Established Stakeholder Team Had several stakeholder roundtables/events Developed Mission Statement, Logo, Materials, Website Established FY 2009 Objectives & Tasks Hired PR Firm to Focus Test Logo & Materials Develop a multi-year Communication Plan

USDA FoodsInitiative Status

USDA FoodsProcurement & Ordering Initiatives

Long term contracts (LTC) to ensure supply require earlier orders and contract awards: • Low Sodium Canned Vegetables LTC orders for delivery July 2009 - June 2010 due Feb 27

• Turkey LTC orders for July - Oct 2009 deliveries: due March 5

• Cheese LTC orders for Jan - Dec 2010 deliveries: due June 30

Always looking & listening for new

ideas!USDAFoods@fns.usda.gov

USDA FoodsInitiative Status