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Overview
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) was designed to distribute free federally donated food to eligible, needy persons throughout the country. Since 1982, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) has administered TEFAP in New Jersey, distributing several hundred million pounds of federal food throughout the state’s twenty-one counties. This program currently provides over 70 different food items such as rice, pasta, cereal, canned beans, canned meat and fish, raisins, peanut butter, fruit juices, canned fruits and vegetables etc., to over 400,000 eligible needy citizens. Currently, New Jersey receives approximately 12 million pounds of TEFAP commodities annually from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Distribution System:

The NJDA manages the ordering and shipment of TEFAP commodities from USDA vendors to six state-contracted Emergency Feeding Organizations (EFOs), with two branch locations, designated to coordinate the program regionally throughout New Jersey. EFOs, in conjunction with the NJDA, have developed a network of local distribution agencies (LDAs) responsible for the actual distribution of these foods to needy persons. TEFAP foods are allocated to EFOs in direct proportion to the number of recipients the EFO serves through its LDAs.

An LDA can be an emergency food pantry, a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, or a needy feeding agency. Currently over 700 LDAs receive commodities. All LDAs must be public or private non-profit organizations, and meet specific requirements. TEFAP commodities support the efforts of local food pantries to provide nutritious food for households in need, and also augment meal preparation at shelters and soup kitchens.

Recipient Eligibility:

To be eligible to receive commodities from an LDA, an individual or family must participate in one of these qualifier programs:

  • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
  • The Food Stamp Program (FSP)
  • Supplement Security Income (SSI)
  • Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program
  • Medicaid

Or, have total household income less than 185% of the federal poverty guidelines.

TEFAP commodities constitute an ongoing source of high quality, nutritious food for New Jersey’s emergency feeding network. Through its Food Distribution Bureau, the NJDA’s Division of Food and Nutrition strives to accept and distribute the maximum volume of USDA donated commodities to as many eligible recipients agencies possible, while insuring viable outlets for national support program food supplies. The NJDA is aided in its TEFAP effort by many volunteers and agencies that distribute TEFAP foods.

A complete TEFAP Program Manual is available on request. For additional program information, call or write your request to:

NJ Department of Agriculture
Division of Food and Nutrition
Bureau of Food Distribution
PO Box 334
Trenton, NJ 08625
(609) 984-2343