Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Announcements from the WI DPI School Nutrition Team (SNT)
- Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition TeamOther Updates and Information
Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
USDA Policy Memorandum SP 09-2025: Buy American Accommodation Process for School Year 2025-26
The first threshold limit for non-domestic food purchases will be implemented beginning in school year (SY) 2025-26. Non-domestic food purchases by school food authorities (SFAs) cannot exceed the annual threshold, which for SY 2025-26, is 10 percent of total commercial food expenditures. The intention is to shift more purchases to domestic products.
It has been brought to the attention of United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS) that there are concerns about certain products, that are integral to school meals menus, that may be difficult to procure domestically.
There are already two regulatory exceptions for non-domestic purchases at 7 CFR 210.21(d)(5) and 7 CFR 220.16(d)(5). USDA has also included an accommodation provision in program regulations to provide temporary relief from the Buy American threshold. This accommodation will allow SFAs to exceed the 10 percent thresholds on a temporary basis and is only available for non-domestic purchases that qualify under one or more of the regulatory exceptions.
SFAs seeking a temporary accommodation from the Buy American threshold requirement should complete the “SFA Accommodation Plan SY 2025-26" available on USDA's webpage linked above. The plan should be submitted to the Department of Public Instruction School Nutrition Team (DPI SNT) at: dpifns@dpi.wi.gov.
Updates from the DPI School Nutrition Team
Get Ready to Celebrate National School Breakfast Week the First Week in March!
National School Breakfast Week Memo and Proclamation
National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) is celebrated the first week in March (March 3-7, 2025) and this year’s theme is, “Clue In To School Breakfast.” It’s a chance to celebrate school breakfast and reflect on the importance of breakfast in helping students achieve academic success.
Studies have shown that students who eat school breakfast are more likely to reach higher levels of achievement in reading and math, have higher scores on standardized tests, have better memory and concentration, take fewer trips to the nurse due to illness, and maintain a healthy weight.
In honor of National School Breakfast Week, we are highlighting some breakfast recipes shared with us from some of our School Breakfast Expansion Grant recipients:
- Breakfast Quesadilla - Submitted by Sturgeon Bay School District
- Ham and Egg Casserole - Submitted by Mondovi School District
To adapt these recipes to your kitchen, be sure to follow the Recipe Standardization Process.
Need more breakfast recipe inspiration? Healthy School Recipes has an abundance of recipes in their database.
If you are interested in learning more about the School Breakfast Program, visit the School Breakfast Program Webpage or contact the School Breakfast Specialists at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) at DPISBP@dpi.wi.gov.
Fork Farms Flex Farm Giveaway!
The DPI School Nutrition Team (SNT) is giving away a Fork Farms Flex Farm to one lucky School Food Authority (SFA)! This indoor hydroponic garden grows approximately 25 lbs. of fresh food every 28 days without any soil and provides a great learning opportunity for students.
Complete the Fork Farms Flex Farm Giveaway Form to be entered into the drawing. To be eligible for the drawing, the SFA must be located in Wisconsin and participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast Program (SBP). Each SFA, regardless of the number of schools, is allowed one entry.
Only complete applications (addressing all question prompts) will be entered into the final drawing. The SFA must be ready to receive the tower in late March/early April.
Applications are due Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
*The Flex Farm was used for promotional activities by the DPI SNT for approximately two months. The unit will be shipped after it has been cleaned and will include any remaining supplies.
Other Updates and Information
STAR Webinar: Mastering Scratch Cooking in Schools
Thursday, February 27, 2025
2-3:00 PM CST
Join this session to hear from school nutrition experts as they share insights on incorporating scratch cooking into school meal programs. Learn tips to help schools overcome common challenges and adopt best practices for preparing foods from scratch. This session will also highlight the benefits of scratch cooking and proven strategies to enhance meal quality and boost student satisfaction.
SNA Key Area(s): 1 – Nutrition, 2 – Operations
USDA Professional Standards Code(s): 1100 – Menu Planning, 2100 – Food Production
Learning Objective(s):
By the end of this webinar, attendees will:
- Identify practical tips for preparing fresh foods to increase meal quality and student satisfaction.
- Recall effective methods for a smooth transition in the day-to-day operations when incorporating scratch cooking in the school meals program.
Whole Foods Garden Grant Program
At Whole Kids, we know that the more kids know and feel connected to their food, the more curious they become about how things grow or taste, and the more willing they are to try new foods. This is why we believe in edible garden learning spaces!
Our Garden Grant program provides a $3,500 monetary grant to support a new or existing edible educational garden located at a K–12 School in the United States (U.S.) or Canada.
Applications for this grant program are due Wednesday, March 5, 2025.