Overview
The Nutrition Services Division (NSD) send messages via Listserv to program operators and contacts. The messages contained in the tabs below are identified by program and sponsor type. Program types include the School Nutrition Program (SNP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), Summer Food Service Programs (SFSP), Food Distribution Program (FDP). To become a School Nutrition Program Operator, an agency must be either a public entity or a nonprofit organization with an Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3) determination. SNP sponsor types include Residential Child Care Institutes (RCCI), and County Office of Education (COE), public and private schools, and direct funded charter schools. SNP role types include Chief Business Officer (CBO), and Food Service Director (FSD). Specialized messages intended for target audiences are marked with an asterisk (*) and are not applicable to entire program and sponsor types.
Note: Messages on this page will remain for three months before being removed.
Disaster
Proclamations that affect our program operators and state.
2026
August
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable to |
|---|---|---|
| 8/10/2026 | Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency in Calaveras County due to Gann Fire | SNP & SSO (Food Service Director) for Calaveras County |
June
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable to |
|---|---|---|
| 5/22/2026 | State Emergency Declaration due in Los Angeles County Due to Boyle Heights Fire | SNP & SSO (Food Service Director) for Los Angeles County |
May
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable to |
|---|---|---|
| 5/26/2026 | State and Federal Emergency Declarations due to Orange County Chemical Incident | SNP & SSO (Food Service Director) for Orange County |
Recall
Food recalls that could potentially affect our program operators and partners.
2026
August
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable to |
|---|---|---|
| 8/10/2026 | City Foods, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Pastrami and Corned Beef Products Due To Possible Listeria Contamination | SNP (Food Service Director) and SNP-Web |
Training
Announcements and availability of trainings, both sponsored by the NSD and those of the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other partners. Includes both in-person and e-learning offerings (conference calls and webinars).
2026
August
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|
| 8/6/2026 | Webinar: Tuesdays @ 2 School Nutrition Town Hall - August 25, 2026 | SNP, SSO, SFSP (Food Service Director) |
June
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|
| 6/2/2026 | Webinar: Tuesdays @ 2 School Nutrition Town Hall - June 23, 2026 | SNP, SSO, SFSP (Food Service Director) |
May
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|
| 5/28/2026 | Free Virtual Training Opportunities | SNP (Food Service Director) |
| 5/7/2026 | Webinar: Tuesdays @ 2 School Nutrition Town Hall - May 26, 2026 | SNP, SSO, SFSP (Food Service Director) |
April
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|
| 4/22/2026 | Food Smarts: Free Trainings | SNP (Food Service Director) |
| 4/8/2026 | Webinar: Tuesdays @ 2 School Nutrition Town Hall - April 28, 2026 | SNP, SSO, SFSP (Food Service Director) |
Policy
Notifies program operators of the release of U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy memoranda.
2026
June
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable to |
|---|---|---|
| 6/1/2026 | Public Comment–Expanding Fluid Milk Options | SNP (Food Service Director) and SNP-Web |
May
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable to |
|---|---|---|
| 5/7/2026 | Expanded Capital Expenditure Approved List | SNP (Food Service Director, Chief Business Official and Superintendent) |
April
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable to |
|---|---|---|
| 4/30/2026 | Updated Resources Due to the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 | SNP (meal type: lunch only, Food Service Director) and SNP-Web |
| 4/23/2026 | Income Eligibility Scales for School Year 2026–27 | SNP (Food Service Director) and SNP-Web |
| 4/22/2026 | CRD 01‑2026: Modifying the Food and Nutrition Service Instruction 113‑1: Civil Rights Compliance and Enforcement | SNP (Food Service Director, Chief Business Official , Civil Rights Coordinator and Claims Preparer) SSO, SFSP |
Management Bulletin (MB)
Notifies program operators of the release of California Department of Education (CDE) NSD MBs.
2026
April
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable to |
|---|---|---|
| 4/8/2026 | Attendance Factor and Required Meal Count Edit Checks |
SNP (Food Service Director) and SNP-web |
Funding
Funding and grant opportunities.
2026
August
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable to |
|---|---|---|
| 8/5/2026 | Federal and State Meal Reimbursement Rates for School Nutrition Programs 2026-27 | SNP (Food Service Director and Chief Business Official) SNP-Web |
July
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable to |
|---|---|---|
| 7/30/2026 | 2026–27 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Grant Recipient Announcement | SNP (Food Service Director, Chief Business Official and Superintendent) |
May
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable to |
|---|---|---|
| 5/12/2026 | USDA Farm to School Grant Informational Webinars | SNP (Food Service Director) |
| 5/5/2026 | U.S. Department of Agriculture Grants to Support Farm to School | SNP (Food Service Director) |
April
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable to |
|---|---|---|
| 4/27/2026 | 2025 Kitchen Infrastructure and Training and the Retention and Recruitment Grants Recipients Announcement | SNP (Food Service Director and Superintendent) |
Recognition
Recognition opportunities available to program operators.
2026
July
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|
| 7/17/2026 | Farm to Summer Celebration Week 2026: Post-Survey | SNP (Food Service Director), SSO and SFSP |
May
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|
| 5/18/2026 | Farm to Summer Celebration Week - Pre-survey 2026 | SNP (Food Service Director), SSO and SFSP |
Other
Applications, surveys, announcements, and annual updates.
2026
July
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|
| 7/15/2026 | Reminder: SUN Bucks 2026 Universal Benefits Application Verification | Specialized List |
| 7/15/2026 | Reminder: 2026 SUN Bucks Data Submission: CALPADS Update Flash #321 |
SNP (Food Service Director, Chief Business Official and Superintendent for Public Schools for Public Schools, Charter Schools, Nonpublic Schools and County Offices of Education and Other Government), SNP-Web |
| 7/13/2026 | Non-congregate Waivers for Unanticipated School Closures | SNP (Food Service Director, Chief Business Official, Superintendent) SSO, SFSP, SNP-Web |
| 7/8/2026 | Child Nutrition Advisory Council Recruitment 2026 | SNP (Food Service Director and Superintendent) |
| 7/6/2026 | Continued Suspension of Food Distribution Program Admin Fee: SY 2026–27 | FDP and FDP-Web |
| 7/6/2026 | Mandatory Food Safety Inspection Survey for School Year 2025–26 |
SNP (Food Service Director and Chief Business Official serving Lunch and Breakfast) |
| 7/1/2026 | School Year 2026–27 Annual Update Now Open | SNP (Food Service Director and Chief Business Official serving Lunch, Breakfast, Supper, AM Snack, PM Snack, and Milk) and SNP-Web |
June
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|
| 6/25/2026 | School Nutrition Programs Administrative Review in School Year 2026–27 | SNP (Food Service Director and Chief Business Official) |
| 6/03/2026 | Important: Upcoming 2026 SUN Bucks Universal Benefits Application Reporting Requirements | SNP (Food Service Director, Chief Business Official and Superintendent for Public Schools, Charter Schools, Private Schools and County Offices of Education and Other Government), SNP-Web and a specialized list |
May
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|
| 5/28/2026 | Action: FDP Contract Packet Due for School Year 2026-27 | SNP (Food Service Director), FDP, and FDP-web |
| 5/19/2026 | Important: Updated Universal Benefits Application Template Now Available | SNP (Food Service Director, Chief Business Official and Superintendent serving Public Schools, Charter Schools, Private Schools and County Offices of Education and Other Government) and SNP-Web |
April
| Notice Date | Title | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|
| 4/22/2026 | School Food Hero Day – May 1, 2026 | SNP (Food Service Director, Chief Business Official and Superintendent) |
| 4/15/2026 | Excessive Heat and Poor Air Quality Waivers for Summer Meal Programs | SFSP and SNP (SSO-Food Service Director) |
| 4/15/2026 | Offer versus Serve Waiver in the Summer Food Service Program | SFSP and SFSP-Web |
| 4/13/2026 | ACTION REQUIRED: Upload SUN Bucks Eligibility Records in EDCS | SNP (Food Service Director, Chief Business Official and Superintendent serving Public Schools, Charter Schools, Nonpublic Schools and County Offices of Education and Other Government) and SNP-web |
| 4/7/2026 | Extension: California Universal Meals Implementation Survey | SNP (Food Service Director) |