Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Guidance, Manuals, and Resources

Resources and information regarding the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Distribution Program requirements and operations.

Guidance

General Information Sheets
Information to assist sponsors with program administration.

FDP General Information Sheets
Information to assist processors with program compliance.

FDP Management Bulletins
Food Distribution Program management bulletins organized by calendar year.

Proper Storage Temperatures for U.S. Department of Agriculture Foods
Information on storage temperatures and storage guidelines for U.S. Department of Agriculture Foods.

Information Alerts

Manuals

Food Distribution Program Assistance Manual
Information and guidance for agencies that receive foods through the Food Distribution Program.

Disaster Resources

USDA Disaster GuidanceExternal link opens in new window or tab.
Food Distribution Program disaster assistance information and other federal links.

Disaster Feeding Guidance for School Food Service Using USDA Foods (PDF)
U.S. Department of Agriculture disaster feeding guidance for school food service using USDA foods.

Questions:   Food Distribution Program | 916-324-7132
Last Reviewed: Thursday, March 16, 2023
Related Content
  • Food Distribution
    Information about United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food commodities, Department of Defense (DoD) fresh produce, distribution centers, and processing of USDA Foods.
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • CNAC Student Member Recruitment Reminder (added 07-May-2024)
    The California Department of Education is currently recruiting applicants for the Child Nutrition Advisory Council (CNAC) student member position.
  • USDA Final Rule: School Meal Standards (added 07-May-2024)
    This information announces the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Final Rule for Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
  • Cargill Meat Solutions Recalls Ground Beef Product (added 03-May-2024)
    Cargill Meat Solutions Recalls Ground Beef Products due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.
  • Summer Meals: Rural Non-congregate Meal Service (added 03-May-2024)
    This management bulletin provides guidance on rural non-congregate meal service options in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO), collectively referred to as the Summer Meal Programs (SMP).
  • CNAC Student Member Recruitment (added 03-May-2024)
    The State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) Child Nutrition Advisory Council (CNAC) is currently accepting applications for the student member position.

  • Summer EBT 2024 Benefit Issuance Timeline Update (added 03-May-2024)
    This communication provides additional information for school food authorities (SFA) about the 2024 Summer EBT (S-EBT) benefit issuance timeline and provides valuable resources SFAs may use when communicating with households.
  • Non-congregate Meal Service Options in Rural Areas (added 29-Apr-2024)
    This management bulletin provides guidance on non-congregate meal service options in rural areas in the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option.
  • Farm to Summer Celebration Week 2024 (added 26-Apr-2024)
    The F2Summer Celebration Week is a recognition program for summer meal program operators that complete three elements: 1) Taste, 2) Teach, and 3) Connect during the designated week of June 17–21, 2024.
  • Provision 2—Application Information (added 24-Apr-2024)
    The purpose of this announcement is to provide school food authorities with information on how to apply to participate in Provision 2 for the 2024-25 school year.
  • Webinar – Transformative Strategies for SN (added 24-Apr-2024)
    This announcement provides registration information for the webinar titled Feeding the Future: Transformative Strategies for School Nutrition (SN) provided by the California Local School Wellness Policy Collaborative.