The Commodity Distribution Program began in 1932 during the Great Depression, which left millions of families without purchasing power and the nation's farmers without a market for their products. Malnutrition was wide spread. A Senate Resolution in 1932 gave the American Red Cross 40 million bushels of wheat for distribution to needy families. This was one of the earliest Federal Assistance Programs.
The Commodity Distribution Program was later expanded to the other child nutrition programs. It continues to provide a method of disposing of surplus and price-supported agricultural commodities in order to prevent waste, while at the same time improving the diets of children, low-income persons and others in need of food assistance.
There are three major pieces of legislation which authorize the purchase of most donated foods by USDA agencies to assist needy families and farmers.
- Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935 removes surpluses of perishable foods and helps stabilize prices. Section 32 foods can include meat, poultry, fish, fruits, and vegetables.
- Section 6 of the National School Lunch Act of 1946 provides funds for the purchase of commodities for schools to improve the health and well-being of the nation's youth.
- Section 416 of the Agriculture Act of 1949 provides funds for removal of certain foods from the commercial market in order to maintain market conditions. Section 416 foods can include dairy and grain products, vegetable oil, shortening, and peanut products.
Through these laws, the Food and Nutrition Service provides commodities to State Distributing Agencies (SDA) and, through them, to eligible recipient agencies.
Emergency preparedness during disasters is another purpose of the Commodity Distribution Program. Any food donated by USDA to participating school districts can be used in disaster feeding. Recognizing the emergency and the need to feed people, school districts and other outlets having USDA donated commodities cooperate fully and make those foods available to groups involved in disaster activities.
South Carolina receives over 87 different types of food items from the USDA commodity food program. Recipient agencies include all public schools, private schools/residential child care institutions and charitable institutions. In South Carolina, the delivery of commodities is accomplished by contracts with commercial distributors. All agencies that receive USDA commodities are required to be non-profit with a tax ID number.
USDA Food Distribution
South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) Food Distribution Team is responsible for managing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Food Distribution Program to the school districts and other K-12 educational institutions in South Carolina which are referred to as Recipient Agencies (RAs).
To support this undertaking, the USDA allocates federal dollars to SCDE each school year. South Carolina disburses these funds based on the total lunches served in the previous school year. These funds are referred to as the Planned Assistance Level (PAL).
The RAs can use their PAL allocation to purchase USDA Commodity Foods (i.e. Brown Box), Processed Foods (USDA Foods which require further processing) and the USDA Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Program.
The DoD “Fresh” Program allows RAs to use PAL dollars to purchase fresh fruit & vegetables throughout the school year from a contracted South Carolina produce vendor. All DoD Fresh produce must be grown in the USA.
USDA Commodity Foods include poultry, beef, pork, fish, egg products, fruits & vegetables and dairy products that must adhere to USDA’s nutritional guidelines. Many of the bulk products offered can be further processed into more convenient, ready-to-use end products.
The USDA Food Distribution Program provides approximately $30 million in nutritional support annually to SCDE. The program allows RAs to serve high quality, nutritional meals to the children in SC’s schools.
In addition, all RAs are given the option to choose a local SC State contracted warehouse to conveniently store and deliver their USDA Commodity Foods throughout the school year.
For additional information about the USDA Food Distribution Program in South Carolina, please email the SCDE Food Distribution Team at SC.FDP@ed.sc.gov .
Non-discrimination Statement
“In accordance with Federal civil rights law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, employees and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, age and reprisal for prior civil rights activity in any programs or activity conducted for funded by USDA .
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
T0 file a program complaint or discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992 . Submit your completed form or letter to: at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or by fax (202) 690-7442 or by email at: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.”
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