Are You Ready For SY 25/26?
Here’s Your Quick Guide to USDA’s Buy American Provision Changes
School menus are being mapped. Orders are getting reviewed. And the updated USDA Buy American Provision for School Year (SY) 2025–26 are already taking shape.
Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry—you’re not in this alone. Zee Zees is here to help you every step of the way.
Let’s break down:
✔️ What's New
✔️ What Matters Most
✔️ And How Can Zee Zees is Making Compliance easier - and tastier
Buy American: What Does It Actually Mean?
The USDA’s Buy American provision requires schools to purchase U.S.-grown agricultural ingredients for the School Breakfast (SBP) and National School Lunch Program (NSLP) whenever possible.
To Be Buy American Compliant, A Food Must:
- Contain more than 51% U.S.-grown agricultural ingredients by weight
- Be processed in the U.S.
Examples of Zee Zees Products That Qualify:
- Applesauce Cups
- Peach and Pear Fruit Cups
- Fava Bean Crisps
- Soft Baked Bars
Exceptions to the Rule: When Can Schools Buy Non-Domestic?
Schools may still purchase non-domestic items when:
- Availability Exception:
If the product is not produced or processed in the U.S. in sufficient or reasonably available quantities, schools can source it from outside the U.S. - Cost Exception:
If the U.S.-produced version is significantly more expensive than the non-domestic option, schools are allowed to purchase the lower-cost alternative.
Pro Tip: Schools must document any commercial non-domestic purchases for the SBP and NSLP... but keeping reading for a shortcut
The FAR List = No Extra Paperwork for Certain Items
Some products are universally recognized as not domestically available. These are listed in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 25.104.
Zee Zees FAR-Exempt Products (No Documentation Needed):
- Mandarin Oranges Cups
- Diced Pineapple Fruit Cups
✔️ No extra paperwork
✔️ Vitamin C-rich
✔️ Kid-approved flavor
✔️ Menu variety
✔️ Labor-saving
New USDA Requirements Coming for SY 2025–26 (And Beyond)
| School Year | Non-Domestic Commercial Spend Limit (as % of total food costs) |
|---|---|
| 2025–26 | 10% or less |
| 2028–29 | 8% or less |
| 2031–32 | 5% or less |
PLUS: Starting in SY 2025–26, all commercial non-domestic items (outside of FAR list) for SBP and NSLP must be documented.
What Districts Are Doing and How Zee Zees Supports Them
Districts nationwide are:
- Rebalancing menus to diversify sourcing
- Adding Zee Zees products to menus for a quick win: kid-loved and labor-saving
- Partnering with vendors (like us!) who provide ready-to-go solutions
How We Make It Easier for You:
- Ready-to-go documentation
- Products that are fully compliant
- Ongoing product innovation that keeps programs fresh
| Product | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Applesauce Cups | Buy American compliant, no added sugar, 100% Vitamin C daily needs, kid-favorite, saves labor |
| Raisins | Buy American compliant, fun flavors, Top 9 allergen-free, vegan, kosher, gluten-free |
| Domestic Fruit Cups | Buy American compliant, in 100% juice, variety of fruit, 100% Vitamin C daily needs, saves labor |
| Mandarin Oranges | FAR-listed, no documentation needed, whole fruit |
| Diced Pineapple | FAR-listed, no documentation needed, tropical variety, labor saver |
| Shelf-Stable Yogurt | Buy American compliant, meets sugar limits, shelf-stable, waste reduction, field-trip ready |
| Fava Bean Crisps, Roasted Chickpeas, Trail Mix | Buy American compliant, plant-based protein, meets sodium targets |
| No-Nut Butter | Buy American compliant, low-sodium, 9g protein, allergen-safe |
| Crackers, Graham Crackers & Soft-Baked Bars | Buy American compliant, whole grain, portable and popular |
Final Bite
You don’t have to tackle SY 2025–26 alone.
Zee Zees offers creative, compliant, and kid-approved solutions for your school’s nutrition needs.
Want help with special diets, commodity processing, delivery schedules, or documentation? Contact our food experts today!
More information: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. (2024). School Nutrition Standards Updates. Retrieved from https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/school-nutrition-standards-updates
Related Topic
Want a full overview of the USDA meal pattern updates for SY 2025–26? Read Our Blog for a quick breakdown of all the key changes coming your way.
