Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Food Distribution Program Assistance Manual

Information and guidance for all agencies who receive foods through the Food Distribution Program.

General Information

The Food Distribution Program Administrative Manual (FDPA Manual) was developed to provide information about the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Distribution Programs as administered by the California Department of Education (CDE).

The manual contains USDA and CDE's policies, procedures, forms, and samples to assist you in administering state and federal donated food programs.

It was prepared by the Nutrition Services Division of the CDE, with funding from the USDA.

For further clarification about the information in the manual, consult the Code of Federal Regulations, or the California Education Code sections cited at the beginning of the chapters and lettered sections.

Contents

The FDPA Manual is being updated. For copies or questions regarding the FDPA Manual, please contact:

Amy Bell
Food Distribution Program
Email: abell@cde.ca.gov

Questions:   Food Distribution Program | FoodDistribution@cde.ca.gov | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Thursday, March 07, 2024
Recently Posted in Nutrition

  • Update to Buy American Provision (added 21-Jun-2024)
    Rule finalizes regulations that strengthen the Buy American provision in the School Nutrition Programs. The Buy American provision requires school food authorities to purchase, to the maximum extent practicable, domestic commodities or products.
  • Summer Meal Excess Heat & Poor Air Quality Waiver (added 17-Jun-2024)
    The USDA has approved the use of two statewide waivers requested by the CDE for summer meal program operators in good standing to provide meals in a non-congregate setting due to excessive heat and/or poor air quality.
  • Webinar-Expanded Geographic Preference (added 10-Jun-2024)
    This web page provides registration information on the webinar titled Partners Webinar on the Expanded Geographic Preference Option in the Final Rule, provided by the USDA’s Farm to School Team.
  • South American Meat Inc. Recalls Frozen Raw Beef (added 06-Jun-2024)
    South American Meat Inc., recalled approximately 20,111 pounds of various eligible frozen raw beef products that were not presented to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service for import reinspection.
  • Farm to Summer Celebration Week 2024- Reminder (added 04-Jun-2024)
    The F2Summer Celebration Week is a recognition program for summer meal program operators that complete three elements: 1) Taste, 2) Teach, and 3) Connect during the designated week of June 17–21, 2024.