Membership
ACDA equips our members to skip the learning curve, navigate the complex USDA Food Distribution Programs and maximize federal entitlement dollars to make the greatest impact on the communities they serve.
Benefits of Membership1. Join a collective voice affecting public policy from the only organization devoted entirely to the interests of USDA foods. We work to strengthen, identify, monitor and address issues that impact USDA Food Distribution Programs. 2. Gain professional representation before Congress and other interested parties. Our Agricultural Commodity Markets aim to reduce the opposition of views on the impact of agricultural trade on food security. 3. Get access to the Association’s membership directory, helping you skip the line and make the right connections with USDA staff. ACDA members gain access to industry leaders, networking and educational opportunities. For current members, login to access the membership directory. 4. Access discounts for the Annual Conference, empowering you to make a bigger difference in your community. Our mission is to educate and empower our communities by providing resources for School Foodservice Authorities (SFAs), cooperatives, food banks, pantries, soup kitchens and other community agencies. We strive for excellence and transparency in agricultural trade by providing helpful resources and clarity on a range of topics. Members also gain access to a library of proprietary ACDA processing forms that help you save time and maximize USDA funding as well as state-developed Recipient Agency Web Based Supply Chain Management training guides to take your career to the next level. | Quick Links |
WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE SAYING... “USDA Foods Programs are complex. ACDA is the place that brings all of the different groups together. Members receive education, they are able to speak with their counterparts on topics, and the association creates places for everyone to collaborate together.” Deborah Cameron |
Membership Sectors |
Allied OrganizationAn Allied and Agricultural organization member shall be a nonprofit organization with interests in food Programs through USDA Food Distribution, including but not limited to agricultural organizations, professional associations, and nonprofit organizations. | AssociateAn Associate member shall be an organization or company involved in the storage, distribution, and transportation of foods through USDA Food Distribution Programs and other businesses including but not limited to attorneys, consultants, brokers, and accountants. |
Community Feeding Recipient AgencyA Community Feeding Recipient Agency member shall be a TEFAP Recipient Agency, which includes Food Pantries, Soup Kitchens, Community Pantries, Soup Kitchens, and Community Food Banks. | IndustryAn Industry member shall be any profit-motivated company or business supplying, manufacturing, or further processing foods through USDA Food Distribution Programs. |
School Program Recipient AgencyA School Program Recipient Agency member shall be a local agency participating in a Food Distribution program with an agreement with a state or territory. A School Program Recipient Agency member may be a school food service authority or a cooperative. Cooperatives, since they are composed of a group of school food service authorities, are also classified as school program recipient agency members. In order to participate in this membership category, a cooperative must be a not for profit entity that has a written contract or agreement with a recipient agency, a group of recipient agencies or a state agency. The cooperative shall provide a copy of their agreement or contract with their request for ACDA membership. | State/TerritoryA State/Territory member shall be a state/territory agency having a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to distribute foods through USDA Food Distribution Programs or a state/territory agency administering other federal nutrition programs. There may be multiple member agencies from each state/territory. |
ACDA Membership Types and Levels |
For-Profit OrganizationA for-profit organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). | State Government OrganizationA state/territory agency having a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to distribute foods through USDA Food Distribution Programs or a state/territory agency administering other federal nutrition programs. There may be multiple member agencies from each state/territory. |
Non-Profit Organization or SchoolAn accredited K-12 school OR a non-profit organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Each organization must be able to provide a copy of its IRS determination letter. | USDA EmployeeIndividual employed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). |
ACDA Membership TiersThe member tiers within these categories are defined as follows:
The cost of ACDA membership differs depending on your membership level and tier. You can find all membership costs here. |
To become a member of ACDA, complete our online membership application below. For questions, contact our team. |
For Current MembersHow to Renew Your MembershipACDA membership renews annually at the start of the calendar year. Login to your account and follow the prompts and choose to be invoiced (an invoice will be emailed to you) or follow the process to pay online. Learn more about how to renew your membership here. ResourcesLearn more about ACDA membership rates, renewal and eligibility below. Have More Questions?Visit our frequently asked questions page to learn more about the mission of ACDA. For additional help or questions about membership contact us to speak with an ACDA staff member today. | Upcoming events
|