Wisconsin Child Nutrition

Product Lists, Values, and Fees

Overview

For School Food Authorities (SFAs) receiving USDA foods through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), below is accounting and financial aspects related to ordering and receiving of USDA foods. On average, USDA Foods make up 15 to 20 percent of the products served, translating to significant savings on school meals budgets. For budgeting, SFAs may find “the 20% rule” useful - on average, entitlement should absorb 20% of the SFA’s food budget. SFAs do not pay for the value of the donated USDA Foods ordered. It is important that SFAs understand the value and fees associated with USDA Foods and compare costs to commercial options to receive the best value from USDA Foods.

Product Lists and Entitlement Values

SFAs are given an annual entitlement value balance (in dollars) to spend on USDA Foods. The amount of entitlement SFAs receive is based on the number of reimbursable lunches served in the previous school year.

USDA releases initial USDA Foods product values in advance of the annual order. SFAs spend down their entitlement balance by ordering USDA Foods products in the WI USDA Foods Ordering System.

School Year 2026-27 (PY 2027)

Product Lists, Entitlement Values, and Handling Fees - Includes Product Lists for Direct Delivery Brown Box, State Processing C Codes, Direct Diversion and Cheese Rebate Products. USDA Foods product values used during the Annual Order Survey were released by USDA in December 2025. In March 2027, DPI will post the updated weighted average entitlement values for the CARS report from actual USDA Foods prices for end of year bookkeeping and program evaluation.

School Year 2025-26 (PY 2026)

Product Lists, Entitlement Values, and Handling Fees -  USDA Foods product values are from December 2024. In March 2026, DPI posted the updated weighted average entitlement values for the CARS report from actual USDA Foods prices for end of year bookkeeping and program evaluation.

DPI's Fees

Depending on the product and the type of delivery, USDA Foods fees may include administrative, processing, storage, and delivery fees. SFA’s fees are automatically deducted from the NSLP Claim as “Commodity Charges Recovered” in the Wisconsin Child Nutrition Online Services system. 
 
Refer to the “Product Lists, Entitlement Values, and Fees” files above for DPI’s fees by product. Fees are posted by July 1 each school year.
 

USDA DoD Fresh Produce Program

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) does not charge School Food Authorities (SFAs) fees for dollar commitments to USDA DoD Fresh Produce Program.
 

USDA Direct Delivery (Brown Box) Products

SFAs incur DPI administrative and storage fees based on monthly Orders. SFAs using State Delivery incur DPI delivery fees. DPI does not charge delivery fees to SFAs using a commercial distributor.
 

State Processed Products (C-Codes)

SFAs incur DPI administrative, storage, and processing fees based on monthly Orders. SFAs using State Delivery incur DPI delivery fees. DPI does not charge delivery fees to SFAs using a commercial distributor.
 

Direct Diversion and Cheese Processing Programs

In August, SFAs incur a one-time DPI administrative fee for the upcoming school year based on the SFAs’ pound commitments for the year.
 

DPI Fees and the Monthly National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Reimbursement

Annual and monthly fees are automatically deducted from the monthly NSLP federal reimbursement claim. The reimbursement voucher reflects the total amount of reimbursement claim less the incurred USDA Foods handling fees, “commodity charges recovered”.

 

School Year 2026-27 (PY 2027)

Fee CategoryHandling Fee
Administrative Fee$0.02 per gross pound
Storage Fee$0.07 per gross pound
Delivery Fee (only for SFAs using State Delivery)$0.1115 per gross pound
Total DPI Fees (for SFAs using State Delivery)$0.2015 per gross pound
Total DPI Fees (for SFAs using a commercial delivery vendor)$0.09 per gross pound

 

School Year 2025-26 (PY 2026)

Resources

Contacts

WI USDA Foods - School Nutrition
(608) 267-4598
Laura Paella
Contract Specialist
(608) 267-4598