TEFAP
TEFAP or The Emergency Food Assistance Program is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people experiencing hunger by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance. In Minnesota, emergency food assistance providers may be eligible to receive TEFAP commodities through an allocation system. Emergency programs include food shelves, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and domestic abuse shelters. Through TEFAP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases a variety of nutritious, high-quality USDA foods, and makes those foods available to the states. As part of the Farm Bill, this program purchases this food from distressed farmers and other suppliers which means that USDA supports local economies in times of hardship. Find out more about the Farm Bill click here.
Planning TEFAP
To find out anticipated TEFAP items for the year by visiting Hunger Solutions website. Click here to find the TEFAP product calendar.
Required Forms
All eligibility forms are made available as downloadable Word documents. Please visit Hunger Solutions for the most up to date forms and requirements - click here to access.
**Eligibility forms cover July - June each year. New income eligibility guidelines updated each June. (We are currently still using the income guidelines established for the COVID pandemic.)
Voter Registration & Outreach materials
TEFAP Resources
If you have further questions please call Joe Walker at 651-789-9849 for help or email jwalker@hungersolutions.org. Please go to www.hungersolutions.org for the most up to date product calendars and forms.
You can find additional information, required forms and other resources on Hunger Solutions’ website. Click here. If you have compliance questions please contact the Agency Relations at orders@2harvest.org or 651-209-7990 or toll free 833-856-0149.
Non Discrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistant program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
If you have a concern about the quality/condition of any TEFAP products that you receive, please contact the Agency Service Desk immediately at 651-209-7990 or fill out the Contact Us form located here. Second Harvest Heartland’s full TEFAP grievance procedure for partners can be accessed by clicking here.
TEFAP in Minnesota
Hunger Solutions Minnesota partners with the USDA, the Minnesota Department of Human Services-Office of Economic Opportunity, food banks and food shelves to administer Minnesota’s TEFAP program. The Emergency Food Assistance Program distributes over 10 million pounds of food to food shelves and on-site meal programs across Minnesota.
Programs that receive TEFAP must comply with several guidelines and laws that ensure commodities are distributed fairly, without discrimination and in accordance with all other USDA requirements.
Second Harvest Heartland’s former Distribution Center in Maplewood, MN.