Appendix 8 - SNA Letter of Support

SCHOOL FOOD PURCHASE STUDY III
Draft OMB forms clearance package – Appendices

Appendix 8: SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION LETTER OF SUPPORT

February 17, 2009

Dear School Nutrition Director:
The SNA leadership has reviewed a description of USDA's proposed School Food Purchase Study
and hereby registers its support for the collection of this information.
The study will collect food purchase data from approximately 425 school districts during the
2009/2010 school year. The results will be used to develop national estimates of food acquisitions
by schools participating in the NSLP and to examine changes in food purchases and purchasing
practices since 1996/1997, when a similar study was undertaken.
Our members work hard in the face of many challenges to ensure that our students are served the
best meals possible. SNA believes that that the data to be collected by this study will be of
significant practical use to those working in the area of school nutrition. We expect the results of
this study to contribute to improved understanding of the costs associated with improving the
nutritional status of school meals and to help document the progress school foodservice directors
have made in purchasing nutritious foods.
We also believe it will be a valuable source of information on procurement practices that districts
and those that service them can use to improve efficiencies further.
USDA assures us that they have taken steps to minimize the reporting burden placed on districts
participating in the study.
Sincerely,

Katie Wilson, PhD, SNS
President

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