Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Information Alert--Fruits and Grain


Nutrition Services Division

Program: Food Distribution Program

Date: March 2005

To: Food Distribution Program Recipient Agencies

Attention: Food Program (or Service) Director
Subject: Storage and Handing of U.S. Department of Agriculture Commodity Dried Fruits and Grain Products

 

This Information Alert serves as a reminder regarding the storage and handling of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foods dried fruits, fruit/nut trail mix, grains, and grain products.

The above items should be stored in a cool dry place. The ideal temperature is 50°F and the relative humidity is between 50 and 70 percent. Dry storage warehouses often do not meet these conditions. Therefore, USDA recommends that dried fruit and grain products be stored under refrigeration.

It is every recipient agency's responsibility to store and handle all commodities properly. The most effective way to avoid product quality deterioration is to only order quantities of commodities that can be used quickly.

Background

USDA has received several complaints about dried fruit and grain products that have become infested in storage. In each instance, it was determined that the product was in storage for an excessive amount of time under less than recommended storage conditions.

Dried fruit and grain products have a short shelf life, unlike frozen and canned products that may be stored for a more extended period of time. Dried fruit products such as raisins, date pieces, fruit and nut trail mix, dried beans, and grain products such as rice flour, and pasta products are susceptible to insect infestation when they are not stored under proper temperatures and/or they are stored for extended periods of time. The potential for infestation increases considerably when these products are stored under relatively warm, humid conditions, which are prevalent in many dry storage warehouses from late spring into fall.

For further information regarding commodity storage, please visit the USDA web site at Reminder about Storage and Handling of Dried Fruits, Fruit/Nut Trail Mix, Grains and Grain Products External link opens in new window or tab..

If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact the Food Distribution Program by email at FoodDistribution@cde.ca.gov.

Questions:   Food Distribution Program | 916-324-7132
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Related Content
  • Guidance, Manuals, and Resources
    Resources and information regarding the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Distribution Program requirements and operations.
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • Action Required: Excess Net Cash Resources (added 12-Aug-2025)
    Provides information to program operators about excess net cash resources, the budget agreement process, and long-term noncompliance.
  • SNP Reimbursement Rates for 2025-26 (added 12-Aug-2025)
    This web page provides the School Nutrition Programs (SNP) reimbursement rates for the 2025-26 school year.
  • 2024 Turnip the Beet Award Winners (added 12-Aug-2025)
    The California Department of Education Nutrition Services Division would like to congratulate 21 California school districts for receiving a 2024 Turnip the Beet Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.
  • May 27, 2025 Tuesday at 2 Town Hall Resources (added 12-Aug-2025)
    The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) hosted the monthly Tuesday @ 2 School Nutrition Town Hall webinar May 27, 2025.
  • June 24, 2025 Tuesday at 2 Town Hall Resources (added 12-Aug-2025)
    The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) hosted the monthly Tuesday @ 2 School Nutrition Town Hall webinar June 24, 2025.

  • Chef Ann Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship (added 12-Aug-2025)
    The Chef Ann Foundation is accepting applications for the 2026 Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship Program. This fellowship supports the development of school food leaders who can support a sustainable program centered around scratch-cooked meals.
  • Webinar: Tuesday at 2 School Nutrition Town Hall (added 04-Aug-2025)
    School Nutrition Town Hall webinar for School Nutrition Program Operators and Food Service Directors.
  • 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