2021-00930. The Emergency Food Assistance Program; Availability of Foods for Fiscal Year 2021

AGENCY:

Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces the surplus and purchased foods that the Department expects to make available for donation to States for use in providing nutrition assistance to the needy under The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. The foods made available under this notice must, at the discretion of the State, be distributed to eligible recipient agencies (ERAs) for use in preparing meals and/or for distribution to households for home consumption.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Rachel Schoenian, Policy Branch, Food Distribution Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, Virginia 22314 or telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with the provisions set forth in the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (EFAA), 7 U.S.C. 7501, et seq., and the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. 2036, the Department makes foods available to States for use in providing nutrition assistance to those in need through TEFAP. In accordance with section 214 of the EFAA, 7 U.S.C. 7515, funding for TEFAP foods is allocated among States according to a formula that accounts for poverty and unemployment levels within each State. Section 214(a)(1) of the Act requires that 60 percent of each State's allocation be based on the number of people with incomes below the poverty level within the State; and Section 214(a)(2) requires that the remaining 40 percent be equal to the percentage of the nation's unemployed persons within the State. State officials are responsible for establishing the network through which the foods will be used by ERAs in providing nutrition assistance to those in need and for allocating foods among those ERAs. States have full discretion in determining the amount of foods that will be made available to ERAs for use in preparing meals and/or for distribution to households for home consumption.

Surplus Foods

Surplus foods donated for distribution under TEFAP are Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) foods purchased under the authority of section 416 of the Agricultural Act of 1949, 7 U.S.C. 1431 (section 416) and foods purchased under the surplus removal authority of section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, 7 U.S.C. 612c (section 32). The types of foods typically purchased under section 416 include dairy, grains, oils, and peanut products. The types of foods purchased under section 32 include meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, dry beans, juices, and fruits. Additionally, in FY 2020, the Department used CCC authority in the CCC Charter Act of 1948, 15. U.S.C. 714, for the Food Purchase and Distribution Program (FPDP), under which surplus foods affected by trade retaliation were purchased for distribution through TEFAP and other federal nutrition programs.

Approximately $496.54 million in surplus and $208.32 million in FPDP foods acquired in FY 2020 will be delivered to States in FY 2021. Surplus foods currently scheduled for delivery in FY 2021 include almonds, apples, beans, blueberries, butter, cheese, cherries, chicken, eggs, figs, grapefruit juice, grapes, haddock, hazelnuts, lentils, milk, mixed fruit, orange juice, oranges, peaches, pears, pecans, pistachios, ocean perch, plums, Alaska pollock, Atlantic pollock, pork, potatoes, raisins, raspberry puree, shrimp, tomato sauce, turkey, and walnuts. FPDP foods scheduled for delivery in FY 2021 include apples, beef, butter, cheese, chicken, corn, eggs, dried fruit mix, lamb, milk, mixed fruit, orange juice, oranges, peaches, plums, pork, and potatoes. Other surplus foods may be made available to TEFAP throughout the year. The Department would like to point out that food acquisitions are based on changing agricultural market conditions; therefore, the availability of foods is subject to change.

Purchased Foods

In accordance with section 27 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. 2036, the Secretary is directed to purchase an estimated $322.5 million worth of foods in FY 2021 for distribution through TEFAP. In addition, States will receive supplemental foods provided through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Pub. L. 116-127, FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Pub. L. 116-136, CARES Act). $309.5 million was provided through the FFCRA and $314.9 million through the CARES Act for supplemental food purchases made in FY 2020 and FY 2021. These foods are made available to States in addition to those surplus and FPDP foods which otherwise might be provided to States for distribution under TEFAP.

For FY 2021, the Department anticipates purchasing the foods listed in the following table for distribution through TEFAP. The amounts of each item purchased will depend on the prices the Department must pay, as well as the quantity of each item requested by the States. Changes in agricultural market conditions may result in the availability of additional types of foods or the non-availability of one or more foods listed in the table.

Fruits:

Apples, Braeburn, Fresh

Apples, Empire, Fresh

Apples, Fuji, Fresh

Apples, Gala, Fresh

Apples, Granny Smith, Fresh

Apples, Red Delicious, Fresh

Apples, Fresh

Apple Juice, 100%, Unsweetened

Apple Slices, Unsweetened, Frozen (IQF)

Applesauce, Unsweetened, Canned

Applesauce, Unsweetened, Cups, Shelf-Stable

Apricots, Halves, Extra Light Syrup, Canned

Blueberries, Highbush, Frozen

Cherry Apple Juice, 100%, Unsweetened

Cranberry Apple Juice, 100%, Unsweetened

Cranberries, Dried, Individual Portion

Fruit and Nut Mix, Dried

Grape Juice, Concord, 100%, Unsweetened

Grapefruit Juice, 100%, Unsweetened

Mixed Fruit, Extra Light Syrup, Canned

Oranges, Fresh

Orange Juice, 100%, Unsweetened

Peaches, Freestone, Slices, Frozen

Peaches, Sliced, Extra Light Syrup, Canned

Pears, Bartlett, Fresh

Pears, Bosc, Fresh

Pears, D'Anjou, Fresh

Pears, Fresh

Pears, Extra Light Syrup, Canned

Plums, Pitted, Dried

Raisins, Unsweetened, Individual Portion

Raisins, Unsweetened

Dairy:

Cheese, American, Reduced Fat, Loaves, Refrigerated

Cheese, Cheddar, Yellow, Shredded, Refrigerated

Milk, 1%, Shelf-Stable UHT

Milk, 1%, Individual Portion, Shelf-Stable UHT

Milk, Refrigerated

Vegetables:

Beans, Green, Low-sodium, Canned

Carrots, Diced, No Salt Added, Frozen

Carrots, Sliced, Low-sodium, Canned

Corn, Whole Kernel, No Salt Added, Canned

Corn, Cream, Low sodium, Canned

Mixed Vegetables, 7-Way Blend, Low-sodium, Canned

Peas, Green, Low-sodium, Canned

Peas, Green, No Salt Added, Frozen

Potatoes, Dehydrated Flakes

Potatoes, Round, Fresh

Potatoes, Russet, Fresh

Potatoes, Sliced, Low-sodium, Canned

Pumpkin, No Salt Added, Canned

Spaghetti Sauce, Low-sodium, Canned

Spinach, Low-sodium, Canned

Sweet Potatoes, Fresh

Tomato Juice, 100%, Low-sodium

Tomato Sauce, Low-sodium, Canned

Tomato Sauce, Low-sodium, Canned (K) (H)

Tomato Soup, Condensed, Low-sodium, Canned

Tomatoes, Diced, No Salt Added, Canned

Vegetable Soup, Condensed, Low-Sodium, Canned

Legumes:

Beans, Black, Low-sodium, Canned

Beans, Black-eyed Pea, Low-sodium, Canned

Beans, Black-eyed Pea, Dry

Beans, Garbanzo, Canned

Beans, Great Northern, Dry

Beans, Kidney, Light Red, Low-sodium, Canned

Beans, Kidney, Light Red, Dry

Beans, Lima, Baby, Dry

Beans, Pinto, Low-sodium, Canned

Beans, Pinto, Dry

Beans, Refried, Low-sodium, Canned

Beans, Vegetarian, Low-sodium, Canned

Lentils, Dry

Peas, Green Split, Dry

Protein Foods:

Alaska Pollock Fish, Whole Grain, Breaded Sticks, Frozen

Alaska Pollock Fish, Fillets, Frozen

Beef, Canned/Pouch

Beef, Fine Ground, 85% Lean/15% Fat, Frozen

Beef, Fine Ground, 85% Lean/15% Fat, Frozen, LFTB OPT, Frozen

Beef Stew, Canned/Pouch

Catfish, Fillets, Frozen

Chicken, Pouch

Chicken, Split Breast, Frozen

Chicken, Whole, Frozen

Eggs, Fresh

Egg Mix, Dried

Peanut Butter, Smooth

Peanut Butter, Smooth (K)

Peanut Butter, Smooth, Individual Portion

Peanuts, Roasted, Unsalted

Pork, Canned/Pouch

Pork, Ham, Frozen

Pork, Chops, Boneless, Frozen

Salmon, Pink, Canned

Salmon, Pink, Canned (K)

Tuna, Chunk Light, Canned (K)

Oils:

Oil, Vegetable

Grains:

Bakery Mix, Lowfat

Cereal, Corn Flakes

Cereal, Corn/Rice Biscuits

Cereal, Corn Squares

Cereal, Oat Circles (WG)

Cereal, Rice Crisp

Cereal, Wheat Bran Flakes (WG)

Cereal, Wheat Farina, Enriched

Cereal, Wheat, Shredded (WG)

Crackers, Unsalted

Flour, All Purpose, Enriched, Bleached

Flour, White Whole Wheat (WG)

Grits, Corn, White

Grits, Corn, Yellow

Oats, Rolled, Quick Cooking (WG)

Pasta, Egg Noodles

Pasta, Macaroni, Enriched

Pasta, Macaroni (WG)

Pasta, Macaroni and Cheese

Pasta, Rotini (WG)

Pasta, Spaghetti, Enriched

Pasta, Spaghetti (WG)

Rice, Brown, Long-Grain, Parboiled (WG)

Rice, Medium Grain

Rice, Long Grain

Tortillas, Frozen (WG)

Other:

Soup, Cream of Chicken, Reduced Sodium

Soup, Cream of Mushroom, Condensed, Reduced Sodium

Key:

H—Halal Certification Required

K—Kosher Certification Required

IQF—Individually Quick Frozen

UHT—Ultra-High Temperature Pasteurization

LFTB OTP—Lean Finely Textured Beef Optional

WG—Whole Grain

Pamilyn Miller,

Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.