Cash or Commodities

Child Caring Online - information about the Child and Adult Care Food Program

Centers have the option: cash or commodities

Child and adult care centers participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program are given the option of receiving USDA commodities or cash-in-lieu of commodities. This is in addition to the funds the center receives as a result of the “meals times rate” reimbursement. The amounts of each commodity offered are based on average daily participation and current entitlement rate.

view current rates

The number of lunches and suppers served to participants determines the quantity of commodities you may receive. Commodities are delivered in August and October through April. You order your commodities one month before the scheduled delivery date. June delivery is available for year around programs when food is available and HHSS has entitlement dollars left.

Child and adult care centers are eligible to receive bonus “free” commodities which do not count against their entitlement.

Order only those commodities that you can use. If you choose not to order certain items, they will continue to be offered to you, if available.

There is no cost to centers for the USDA commodities, but centers are required to pay shipping and warehouse charges. For fiscal year 2004, the cost averaged less than 15 cents per pound. Package size of the commodity foods are generally No. 10 cans or 10-lb frozen raw ground meat. Inventory records must be kept by unit for all commodities.

REMINDER: Failure to pay HHS for your commodity shipments may result in your center being declared seriously deficient and terminated from participation in the CACFP.

The following is a list of foods that have been available in previous years.

  • apple slices, canned
  • applesauce, canned
  • apricots, canned
  • apricots, frozen
  • green beans, canned
  • beef, frozen
  • carrots, frozen
  • cheese, sliced
  • cherries, dried
  • chicken, breaded
  • chicken, fajita
  • chocolate pudding cups (not creditable on CACFP, considered an “extra”)
  • corn, canned
  • flour
  • fruit mix, canned
  • ham, frozen, water added
  • macaroni
  • orange juice
  • peanut butter
  • peaches, cling, diced, canned
  • pears, sliced, canned
  • peas, frozen
  • pineapple tidbits, canned
  • potatoes, oven
  • potatoes, wedges
  • raisins
  • rotini
  • potato rounds
  • shortening
  • tomato sauce
  • tomatoes, diced
  • turkey breast, deli
  • turkey hams
  • turkey roasts
  • vanilla pudding cups (not creditable on CACFP, considered an “extra”)
  • vegetable oil
  • walnut, English, pieces

For more information about the commodity program, contact Chad Mohr at the Nebraska Health and Human Services System. Phone: (402) 560-0480.

Updated May 29, 2018 8:34am