Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

FDP: Avenues of Participation

The Food Distribution Program (FDP) Avenues of Participation online training.

Course Description

There are three different ways to receive U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foods in California: (1) allocation agencies, (2) state cooperatives (co-ops), and (3) private co-ops. This training describes the three different participation methods a recipient agency can choose from and how they differ from one another. This training is recommended for any agency interested in learning more about the options available for ordering and receiving USDA Foods.

  • Course Number: 669
  • Training Length: 21 minutes
  • Certificate: None
  • Target Audience: Food Service Director and Staff
  • Mandatory: No
  • Cost: Free
  • Date Recorded: February 2016

Online Course



Referenced Resources

The following resource is referred to throughout this online course:

Crediting

  • Crediting: 0.25 hour
  • Key Area: Nutrition (1000)
    • Training Topic: Menu Planning (1100)
      • Learning Objective: Plan for effective use of USDA foods (1170)

For more information on crediting, access the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) web document Professional Standards for School Nutrition Professionals External link opens in new window or tab.

Additional Information

For more information on USDA Foods, visit the California Department of Education Food Distribution web page.

Contact Us

For questions regarding the course content, contact the Food Distribution Program by email at FoodDistribution@cde.ca.gov.

Questions:   Food Distribution Program | FoodDistribution@cde.ca.gov | 916-324-7132
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Related Content
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • CNAC Minutes for the November 2, 2023 Meeting (added 31-Jul-2025)
    Meeting minutes for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Child Nutrition Advisory Council (CNAC) on November 2, 2023.
  • Next Steps: 2025–26 FFVP Grant Recipients (added 30-Jul-2025)
    On July 28, 2025, the CDE NSD awarded and posted the FFVP first allocation grant recipients and funding allocations for School Year 2025–26 on the CDE FFVP Funding Results web page. The FFVP first allocation is July 1, 2025–September 30, 2025.
  • Ada Valley Meat Company Recalls Ground Beef (added 30-Jul-2025)
    Ada Valley Meat Company Recalls Ready-To-Eat Ground Beef Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
  • 2025–26 FFVP Grant Recipient Announcement (added 29-Jul-2025)
    On July 28, 2025, the CDE NSD awarded and posted the FFVP first allocation grant recipients and funding allocations for School Year 2025–26 on the CDE FFVP Funding Results web page. The FFVP first allocation is July 1, 2025–September 30, 2025.
  • CEP Application and Mandatory P2 Base Year Review (added 28-Jul-2025)
    Provides guidance to school food authorities on how to apply for the Community Eligibility Provision and on the mandatory review of the Provision 2 base year.

  • Appeal Process for Grants (added 24-Jul-2025)
    This web page provides and overview and timeline for the appeal process for grants in California associated with the Child Nutrition Programs administered by the California Department of Education Nutrition Services Division.
  • Mandatory Review of Provision 2 Base Year (added 23-Jul-2025)
    This management bulletin provides guidance regarding the mandated review of school food authorities participating in Provision 2.
  • Noncongregate Waivers for Unanticipated Closures (added 23-Jul-2025)
    Noncongregate Waivers for Unanticipated School Closures SY 2025-26
  • California Agriculture in the Classroom Conference (added 21-Jul-2025)
    Join California Agriculture in the Classroom at the 38th Annual Agriculture in the Classroom Conference to gain hands-on tools, resources, and inspiration to integrate agriculture into every subject.
  • Food Safety Inspection for School Year 2024–25 (added 15-Jul-2025)
    LEAs participating in the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and/or National School Lunch Program (NSLP) must complete the SY 2024-25 Food Safety Inspection Survey.