Food Distribution HistoryLearning Support : Minnesota Department of Education

Food Distribution History

Food Distribution History

The USDA Food Distribution Program (FDP) provides nutritious foods to our nation's children and helps American farmers by supporting domestic agriculture and removing surplus commodities from the market.

For the National School Nutrition Program (NSLP), the Food Distribution Program complements the Federal cash reimbursement of eligible meals served, providing additional non-cash assistance to schools in the form of USDA Commodities. All sponsors participating in the NSLP are required to participate in the Food Distribution Program.

In addition to the cash reimbursements, schools receive commodity foods, purchased with "Commodity Entitlement," at a value of 18.75 cents for each reimbursable meal served during school year 2007 - 2008. Schools can also receive "Bonus Commodities” as they are available from surplus agricultural stocks.

The Minnesota Department of Education Food and Nutrition Service surveys School Food Authorities (SFAs) to determine demand and orders and coordinates distribution of a wide variety of USDA commodities to SFAs.

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Commodity Entitlement


Federal law mandates a national level of commodity assistance for schools based on number of reimbursable meals served during a school year. The national commodity assistance level is referred to as Commodity Entitlement.

Commodity Assistance:

SY 2007 - 2008 $0.1875
SY 2006 - 2007 $0.1700
SY 2005 - 2006 $0.1750
SY 2004 - 2005 $0.1725
SY 2003 - 2004 $0.1575
SY 2002 - 2003 $0.1525

Entitlement is calculated by multiplying the total number of reimbursable meals served during the previous school year times the mandated national level of commodity assistance.

Entitlement Calculation:
SY 2006 - 2007 Reimbursable Meals x $0.1875

In order to utilize the State’s annual Commodity Entitlement a variety of commodities are offered, purchased and delivered to Minnesota Schools. Food and Nutrition Service is responsible for allocating Commodity Entitlement to all of the schools participating in the National School Lunch Program.



Bonus Commodities


Bonus Commodities are offered in addition to Commodity Entitlement. Bonus Commodities are considered those over and above Commodity Entitlement foods. They are offered periodically, but only as they become available through agricultural surpluses.

When available, the Bonus Commodities are offered to Minnesota Schools and the ordered quantity does not use Commodity Entitlement dollars. The type and quantity of Bonus Commodities distributed by USDA in a given year is dictated by agricultural surpluses and market conditions.

Types of Bonus Commodities recently offered:

  • Non-Fat Dry Milk: Cheese
  • Fruits: Apples, Peaches, Strawberries
  • Vegetables: Potatoes


Commodities Available


Minnesota offers a wide variety of Commodity Entitlement foods to schools from a list of more than 100 different kinds of products. Including fruits and vegetables; meats (beef, pork, and poultry); fruit juices; vegetable oil; peanut products; rice, cheese, pasta, flour and other grain products.

The commodities available are grouped into two types of commodities: Group “A” Commodities and Group “B” Commodities.

  • Group “A” Commodities are the Fruits & Vegetables that are available during the growing season. They also include a dependable supply of Beef, Pork, and Poultry commodities.
  • Group “B” Commodities are the staple foods available which include a variety of: Cheese, Non-Fat Dry Milk, Nuts, Vegetable Oils, and Grain Products. Group “B” commodities are available throughout the school year.

Regular Commodity Pricing School Year 2006-2007 PDF Version 38Kb (9/17/07) Native Version 16Kb (9/17/07)
     Listing of all commodities offered in School Year 2006-2007 on Preference Surveys along with the per case pricing used to draw down entitlement for SY 2007 for the Food Distribution Program (FDP).
Regular Commodity Pricing School Year 2007-2008 PDF Version 39Kb (10/31/07) Native Version 15Kb (10/31/07)
     Listing of all commodities offered in School Year 2007-2008 on Preference Surveys along with the per case pricing used to draw down entitlement for SY 2008 for the Food Distribution Program (FDP).

MN's Food Distribution Program


The goal of the Minnesota Food Distribution Program (FDP) is to enable School Food Authorities (SFA’s) to effectively and efficiently receive their Commodity Entitlement. Once your Commodity Entitlement has been allocated, how does FNS enable customers to receive their Commodity Entitlement and/or Bonus Commodities?

Minnesota offers three distinct demand driven food distribution channels. There are no limitations to which of three distribution channels you choose to utilize Commodity Entitlement and/or Bonus Commodities.

  1. Regular (USDA Packaged Commodities)
    Over Fifty Varieties of Group “A” and Group “B” Commodities
  2. Fee-For-Service
    Beef and Pork
  3. Minnesota Rebate Program
    Commercial Products that utilize Fruits, Vegetables, Poultry and Group “B” Commodities

In the “Regular” distribution channel, a variety of more than fifty types of USDA package commodities are offered to sponsors.

The “Fee-For-Service” distribution channel offers beef and pork to SFA’s to divert the respective commodity to one of the 10 approved processors.

Finally, the “Minnesota Rebate Program” distribution channel offers a commodity rebate for over 880 commercial products from 35 manufacturers that utilize Group “B” Commodities and Poultry.