The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Distribution Program is a multi-purpose program designed to improve the nutritional quality of the diets of children and needy adults. In addition, it supports agriculture through price support and surplus removal programs. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) is the statewide distributing agency that orders food from the USDA and arranges for the receipt, storage and distribution to schools, child care centers, elderly programs, soup kitchens, and food pantries.
DESE may select USDA Foods for their schools, child and adult care centers, family day care centers, and summer program sites from a list of more than 200 products. Products include U.S. grown, processed, and packed, high-quality vegetables, fruits, dairy products, whole grains, lean meats, and other protein options. In recent years, USDA has reformulated products in every food category to lower the levels of sodium, sugar, and fat, and to help offer nutrient-dense, kid-friendly meals.
USDA has been increasing the types of foods available. You can learn more about foods available in USDA Foods Schools Product Information Sheets .
The Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program allows schools to use USDA Foods entitlement dollars to buy fresh produce. The program is operated by the Defense Logistics Agency at the Department of Defense. Through the Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been able to offer schools a wider variety of fresh produce than would normally be available through USDA purchases. DoD is procuring locally to the greatest extent possible, consistent with season and quality.
The amount of entitlement dollars you receive depends on the type of program you operate and the number of lunches you serve. This value changes every year based on USDA Food Assistance rate. Program operators or organizations who are interested in participating in Child Nutrition Programs can get more information about the value of a program's entitlement contact the Food Distribution Team.
The first step to getting the most value from your USDA Food Entitlement is to understand the ways that you can use these funds. School Food Authorities have three unique spend options available to them: Processing/Diversion, Brown Box and DoD Fresh. Learn more about each of these spend options and ways to effectively manage inventory in
Nuts and Bolts of School Nutrition Programs: USDA foods 101 and Inventory Management
Organizations that operate the Child and Adult Food Care program and Summer Food Service Program should contact the Food Distribution Team for more information as options are unique to each sponsoring organization.
MA TEFAP State Plan
TEFAP is a federally supported program that provides donated USDA foods for distribution to low-income households in need of emergency nutrition assistance. DESE contracts with a statewide network of food banks who distribute the donated USDA foods to food pantries, soup kitchens or other prepared meal sites within their area. Foods include canned, dry, fresh, and frozen products such as fruits and vegetables; eggs, meats, fish, and poultry; pasta, rice, and other grains; canned and dry beans; milk and juice; peanut butter; cereals.
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources also works with the food banks to provide food assistance through the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) .
For food assistance contact the food bank in your area:
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
The Greater Boston Food Bank
Merrimack Valley Food Bank
Worcester County Food Bank
Nutrition Program for Seniors | Mass.gov
The program offers healthy meals, screenings, education, and counseling to help older people maintain a healthy nutrition status by providing at least one daily balanced meal to seniors. Meals are at congregate meal sites and through home-delivered meals to people 60+. Sites may also provide transportation and recreation. Supper and weekend meals are also available in some areas as well as special ethnic meals.
People aged 60 or older and their spouses are eligible to receive nutrition services. The program helps elders maintain independence so they can continue to live in their homes. The program also offers nutrition assessments and counseling to seniors who are at nutritional risk.
MA CSFP State Plan
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) is the only USDA nutrition program that provides monthly food assistance specially targeted at low-income seniors. It is a federally supported program that provides donated USDA foods for distribution to improve the health of low-income persons at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA Foods. DESE contracts with public and nonprofit private local agencies to determine the eligibility of applicants, distribute the foods, and provide nutrition education.
CSFP Fact Sheet Commodity Supplemental Food Program Factsheet (azureedge.us)
Most participants pick up their monthly CSFP food package at a food bank or other local sponsor. Participants also can have an authorized designee pick up their food package. Some communities deliver the food package directly to the participant's home, a critical program feature for seniors with limited mobility.
The CSFP food package has an average value of $50 and provides a selection of fruit, juice, vegetables, milk, cheese, grains, and protein, including plant-based protein, each month. The following links provide more information about the foods and the nutrition benefits of the program.
USDA Foods Available List for CSFP
USDA Foods Product Information Sheets and Recipes
CSFP: Nutrition Benefits of the Program
Nutrition in the CSFP Food Package
For food assistance contact the food bank participating in this program:
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) | The Greater Boston Food Bank (gbfb.org)
Last Updated: April 2, 2025