This month marks a major milestone for school nutrition in Texas – you are learning to use the Texas Automated Nutrition System (TANS) for the 2026-2027 school year. Thank you for putting in the hard work necessary to make the transition from TX-UNPS – a 15-year-old system in need of retirement – to a new in-house system for applications, claims, and compliance. I look forward to hearing your feedback on TANS.

As part of our efforts to highlight the great work happening in school cafeterias across Texas, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has launched a new statewide photo contest called the Meal Appeal Challenge. Schools are invited to submit photos of breakfast and lunch trays that showcase both meal quality and appealing presentation. Each month, TDA will select a winning entry for recognition. Look for more information during school calls, on SquareMeals.org, and in your newsletters. We will also share resources to help you capture photos of your meals at their best.

Your award-worthy contributions to school nutrition extend to your efforts to bring real food to school meals and soon you will get additional support. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchased $263 million in agricultural products for nutrition assistance programs including the National School Lunch Program. This USDA purchase will provide butter, dried beans, cheddar cheese, fresh pears, pecans, and more. We will give you more information as it becomes available.

The products from USDA will be produced in the United States, but not necessarily locally. To help you navigate the process of buying food directly from local producers, the TDA FRESH TRAYS team is going to Education Service Centers (ESCs) to offer advanced local food procurement training for Child Nutrition Programs. Your ESCs will notify you when the training is available in your region, and you can stay up to date on SquareMeals.org. Note that the FRESH TRAYS training for producers is different and only available in select locations.

Milk, a popular product often available from local dairy farms, became a hot topic this year. Schools and dairy farmers across the country continue to gauge demand for the options outlined in the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. You can explore your students’ preferences for whole and 2 percent milk with taste testing and surveys. Remember, as released, the law affects only the National School Lunch Program, not the School Breakfast Program, and you can continue to operate under the previous regulations if you choose.

On a final federal note, TDA is seeking an extension of the federal grant that supports projects such as the Farm Fresh Student Engagement Grants. TDA hopes this extension is approved and that we can extend the timeframe and number of these grants in schools.

The Summer Meal Programs offer an excellent way for you to enhance your program and provide important nutritional resources for children. You have until May 31 to apply for the Seamless Summer Option. If you plan to serve summer meals, be sure to attend TDA’s webinar on best practices for promoting summer meals. The webinar is scheduled for April 23 and will include two school districts sharing what worked well for promoting last year’s summer meal sites and kickoff events.

If you serve rural areas I encourage you to explore non-congregate summer meals – meal bundling, parent pickup, and home delivery. For 2026, TDA has introduced important exceptions to the 2-mile proximity rule prohibiting non-congregate summer site operation within 2 miles of another site. School districts that successfully use USDA Foods in their child nutrition programs and sites operating mobile routes may be eligible for this exemption. Additional flexibilities are also in place that would allow easier implementation of non-congregate service at school sites operating summer school. Our policy team has developed a thorough FAQ with all the 2026 changes highlighted and they have recorded a webinar. Both are available on SquareMeals.org.