The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Distribution Program (FDP) is a multi-purpose program designed to improve the nutritional quality of the diets of people who participate in the program. In addition, it supports agriculture through price support and surplus removal programs. The foods are made available to designated state agencies for distribution to eligible outlets such as school food authorities (SFAs).

The Mississippi Department of Education is one of these distributing agencies that orders food from USDA and arranges for the receipt, storage and distribution to SFAs.