FAQ: NSIP and 

Domestically 

Produced Food

What does the Older Americans 

Act (OAA) say about the Nutrition 

Services Incentive Program (NSIP) and 

domestically produced food?

Section 311 of the OAA authorizes the Nutrition 

Service Incentive Program (NSIP) which provides 

grants to states, territories, and eligible tribal 

organizations to incentivize OAA senior nutrition 

programs to serve more meals. NSIP allocations 

may only be used to buy domestically produced 

foods that are a part of a meal.

In addition, Section 339 of the OAA encourages 

the use of locally grown foods in senior meal 

programs. 

What is “domestically produced?” 

“Domestically produced” foods for senior 

nutrition programs are: 

Food, beverages, and other food ingredients 

grown, processed and prepared in the United 

States, including its territories or possessions, 

the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the Trust 

Territories of the Pacific Islands. 

What are some easy ways to make 

sure NSIP funds are spent only on 

domestically produced foods?

You can spend all your NSIP funds to purchase 

any of the items below up to the full amount of 

your NSIP award. That is an easy way to make 

sure NSIP funds are spent properly.

• Milk and bread produced domestically 

• Local protein foods like beef, chicken, fish, 

eggs, cheese

• Local produce
How can I be sure food bought with NSIP funds is 

domestically produced food?

• Work with vendors to source and document domestically 

produced foods.

• Verify origins of products on labels. See examples of what 

to look for below.

You can also choose to receive your NSIP grant as 

commodities (food) from the USDA, as these would already 

be identified as domestically produced items under USDA 

rules. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service lists State and Tribal 

Agencies to contact regarding USDA commodities.

What are some 

common items 

that are typically 

accessible 

for purchase 

domestically? 

What are some 

common items 

that may be 

more difficult 

to purchase 

domestically?

Common items usually 

available for purchase 

domestically

Dairy

Eggs

Beef

Poultry

Local produce

Breads

Native American, Alaska Native and Native 

Hawaiian traditional foods that are typically 

available for purchase domestically

Locally hunted or farmed animals

Bison, Caribou, Venison

Turkey

Chicken

Eggs

Locally caught marine products

Fish 

Shellfish

Freshwater fish (Walleye, sturgeon, trout, 

salmon)

Wild rice

Berries - salmon berries, blueberries, 

cloudberries

Fiddlehead fern

Kalo

Beans - tepary beans, pinto beans

Squash

Corn

Potatoes

Common items that may be more difficult to 

purchase domestically (may depend on your 

location)

Fish

Shellfish

Some fruits, such as bananas or plantains

Culturally inclusive items that are imported into the 

United States

Imported items found in local cultural grocery 

stores, including: 

Canned food

Shelf stable food items 

Pro Tip!

• Include domestically 

produced requirements 

when writing RFPs and 

soliciting food bids

• Require foodservice 

partners to log lot 

numbers and origin of 

products

To find more examples of USDA commodities and foods commonly found on USDA domestically 

produced food lists, organized by food group category, programs may also choose to review:

USDA Foods Available List for School Year 2022-2023 for Schools and Institutions

USDA Foods Available List for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) 2022
What should I look for on labels?

Check examples below for ways to make sure foods were produced or grown in the US. You can 

consider requiring foodservice partners to log lot numbers and origin of products for audit purposes.

How can I tell if a food is not domestically produced?

Below are examples of foods that are not domestically produced and can not be purchased with NSIP 

funds.
How can I use more locally grown foods and enter partnerships and contracts with 

local producers and providers of locally grown foods?

• Extension programs, food hubs, and local farmers markets may serve as resources for locally 

grown foods. When exploring these partnerships, senior nutrition programs should work with 

partners to identify whether foods are locally produced or transported. 

• Senior nutrition programs may consult local or Tribal food directories such as the Local Food 

Directories | Agricultural Marketing Service or the Made/Produced by American Indians Directory | 

Intertribal Agriculture Council to identify locally grown foods.

For more information, please visit these links:

Nutrition Services | ACL Administration for Community Living - overview of the OAA Nutrition 

Program, includes purpose, performance and evaluation, eligibility, nutrition standards and 

federal grants (including NSIP allocations).

Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP) of the Older Americans Act (OAA) Guidance – 

explains NSIP and NSIP requirements, as well as FY2022 ACL Title III Program, Reporting and 

Fiscal Updates.

Pro Tip!

The most helpful item in this document 

is the definition of “U.S. Origin Product” 

and the language further explaining 

exceptions that are in the definition 

on pages 28-29. (This document also 

explains USDA commodities bidding, 

but most OAA programs don’t need 

those details. Don’t be overwhelmed.)

Pro Tip!

Looking for vendors in your area that 

are already approved suppliers of 

domestically produced foods, and 

lists of products already approved by 

USDA? Use the links to the charts on this 

page.

AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurement – 

explains USDA commodities bidding; pages 28 and 29 

provide additional details of “U.S. Origin Product” and waivers 

for non-availability at fair and reasonable prices (aligns with 

senior nutrition program definition).

Getting to Scale with Regional Food Hubs | USDA – USDA blog 

post describing how the food hub infrastructure supports 

regional producers and consumers, with project examples.

Local Food Directories | Agricultural Marketing Service – use 

this directory to connect with local farms, farmers markets 

and food hubs.

USDA Food Purchase Resources – on this page, locate links 

to product-specific charts detailing USDA eligible vendors of 

domestically produced food items and qualified products 

under Agricultural Marketing Service Resources (USDA 

Vegetables, Fruit & Tree Nuts; USDA Dairy, Grain & Oilseeds; 

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Fish).

USDA Foods Available List for School Year 2022-2023 for Schools and Institutions - includes 

examples of the types of foods often found on USDA domestically produced food lists, 

organized by food group category.

USDA Foods Available List for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) 2022 - 

includes examples of the types of foods often found on USDA domestically produced food 

lists, organized by food group category.

This project was supported in part by grant number 90PPNU0002 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of 

Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to 

express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.