In order to receive USDA Foods for SY 2012-2013, all schools will be required to submit a response to the “Request for USDA Foods Delivery” application in the Michigan Electronic Grants System Plus (MEGS+). Schools must choose one of the following options for the delivery of the USDA Foods: (1) join a consortium for commodity diversion, or (2) choose not to participate in the delivery of USDA Foods.
Schools that choose to join a consortium will receive USDA brown box foods (non-processed), Department of Defense (DoD) fresh fruits and vegetables, and processed foods procured by the consortium through processing contracts. Schools that choose not to participate in the delivery of USDA Foods will forfeit their commodity entitlement and will be ineligible to receive USDA Foods in SY 2012-2013.
The application in MEGS+ will be available from October 24 to November 30, 2011. Your district’s authorized official (Level 5) must respond by November 30, 2011, even if your district chooses not to participate in the program. The decision made by your school district will be irrevocable for SY 2012-2013.
To learn more about the consortia, a USDA Foods and Consortia Facts document has been developed to compare the services provided by each consortium. To access this document, click here: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/USDA_Foods_and_Consortia_Facts_SY1...
For more questions, contact Deidra Tyrrell at tyrrelld1@michigan.gov, phone 517-373-8642, or Jaime Malnar at malnarj1@michigan.gov, phone 517-335-3792.