TEFAP Update May 2008

We have mixed news this month from Hunger Solutions Minnesota and OEO/DHS regarding the TEFAP Program. The good news is that due to a recent “barter” program by the United States Department of Agriculture we should be receiving an abundance of highly desirable “bonus” products through the end of the year. Overall we should be receiving an additional 21 truckloads of product which include: frozen chicken products, frozen turkey ham, regular ham, canned tuna, canned salmon, peanut butter and pinto beans.

The bad news is that receiving these products will max out our annual administrative dollars. As a result some products will now have to be distributed at the full shared maintenance, 14¢ /pound, rate. However, many products will continue to be distributed at zero shared maintenance. The full shared maintenance items may be on your allocation or shopping lists as early as May. Please keep an eye out for them.

We regret that the zero maintenance program did not work out as planned. If it had been in 2006 or 2007 we would have made it through the entire year with the administrative dollars available. We think you’ll agree though, that having too much food is not necessarily a bad thing. It is our plan that come this fall all products received at the food banks after September 30th will again be distributed at zero shared maintenance – at least until funds expire.

We are also hopeful that the Farm Bill that is being negotiated in Congress will help to provide, going forward, additional administrative dollars to support this highly beneficial program.

Thanks in advance for your understanding. And we’d also like to express our gratitude for your daily efforts in helping to feed those in need in Minnesota. For more information on TEFAP products, contact John Wollum at 651-789-9845 or email at jwollum@hungersolutions.org.