The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently published the USDA Foods Available List (FAL), the USDA Foods List of Materials Report, and the USDA Foods Processor Material Prices Report. These USDA Foods resources help School Nutrition Program (SNP) professionals plan their menus and food purchases by showing what USDA Foods are available and current pricing, making them essential tools for cost-effective decision-making.
USDA Foods Available List
The FAL is available on the USDA Foods Expected to be Available web page
, and includes foods that the USDA expects to purchase for Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) in School Year (SY) 2026–27. A summary of changes to the most recent FAL is below.
Removed Items
- Oranges, Fresh, 34–39-pound (lb.) case, Item Code 10028
- Beef, Fine Ground, 100%, 85/15, finely textured beef option, Raw, Frozen, 40-pound case, Item Code 110261
Changed Items
- Beans, Pinto, Low-sodium, Canned, 6/#10 can, Item Code 100365 – is now required to have a commercial kosher certification.
- Pork, Pulled, Cooked, Frozen, Item Code 110730 – this item was previously offered in both 8/5 lb. and 4/10 lb. pack sizes; the 4/10 lb. option has been removed, and this item will only be available in an 8/5 lb. pack size.
USDA Foods List of Materials Report
This report helps SNP professionals determine the types and quantities of USDA Foods to order based on pack size and pricing. It also helps to identify a fair market price for the food they will be receiving.
The USDA Foods List of Materials Report contains the most recent USDA purchase price for all USDA Foods including acquisition price, transportation fees, and, if applicable, processing costs. This report also lists the item identification code, pack size, price per pound, and gross and net weight for all USDA foods. This information is used by the USDA to determine the appropriate contract value for each USDA Food for the upcoming SY that begins July 1. This list is available on the USDA Foods Available web page
.
USDA Processor Material Price Report
The USDA Foods Processor Material Price reports for SY 2026–27 are available on the USDA Food Distribution Processor Material Prices web page
. This information is used by SNP professionals as well as national and in-state processors participating in the Food Distribution Program (FDP) to estimate prices of USDA Foods for the upcoming school year.
There are two reports available:
- Average Material Price—this report contains the calculated annual average purchase price for USDA Foods purchased by the USDA in Federal Fiscal Year 2025–26. These prices are used on national and in-state processors’ Summary End Product Data Schedules (SEPDS) for SY 2026–27 for rebating or discounting finished end products containing USDA Foods.
- Average Cheese Prices Explanation—this report provides an explanation of the calculation for average cheese prices. These values are used on national and in-state processors’ SEPDS for the purpose of rebating or discounting finished end products containing USDA Foods cheeses.
Additional Resources
- The USDA Foods Database
provides up-to-date, vendor-specific nutrition, allergen, and ingredient information for direct delivered USDA Foods included on the FAL. This information can be used to make informed ordering decisions, manage menu planning, and meet USDA meal pattern requirements and nutrition standards, while providing safe meals for students with food allergies and other special dietary needs.
The USDA Foods Database is also an acceptable form of documentation for verifying how USDA Foods credit toward the meal pattern requirements during the Administrative Review.
The USDA Foods Database is a non-editable Excel spreadsheet that allows users to search for USDA Foods by their 6-digit unique Item Code and must be downloaded and saved to be used. Because the USDA makes purchases throughout the year, the database is updated monthly to capture new vendors and product information. The USDA recommends downloading the latest version each month to obtain the most current information available.
- The California Department of Education’s USDA Foods Program Information web page provides information on the annual federal notices for the value of donated foods, USDA Foods Fact Sheets, USDA Foods Expected to be available list, and USDA Foods pricing information.
Contact Information
If you have any questions regarding this subject or if you want to learn more about the financial benefits of the FDP and/or USDA Foods, please contact the FDP by email at FoodDistribution@cde.ca.gov.