Craig Brooks of the South Carolina Office of Health and Child Nutrition takes the office of President of ACDA (American Commodity Distribution Association) in May of this year.

This will actually be Mr. Craig Brooks second time serving as President of this National Organization.  He first served in this position during the 97-98 school year.  Craig has actively participated in ACDA, having attended the last 24 National Conventions serving in many capacities within ACDA including Chair of the Processing Committee, Chair of the Nominating Committee, and Chair of the By-Laws Committee.

ACDA is a non-profit professional trade association that is devoted to the improvement of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Distribution Program.  The program began in 1935 to encourage consumption of overabundant domestic farm products while providing nutritious foods to participating individuals; still the purpose of the program today.  ACDA members include state agencies that distribute USDA-purchased commodity foods; industry; associate members; recipient agencies, such as schools and soup kitchens; and allied organizations, such as anti-hunger groups.  ACDA members are responsible for distributing over 1.5 billion pounds of USDA-purchased commodity foods annually through programs such as National School Lunch Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), Charitable Institution Program, and Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).

Craig earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from South Carolinas own military college, The Citadel.  After graduation, he served his country as an officer in the Army as an Airborne/Pathfinder in Korea and Germany.  Mr. Brooks began working in the State of South Carolina Department of Education, Food Distribution Section, Office of School Food Services as an Education Associate in 1983.  He later attended the University of South Carolina concentrating on courses in Computer Science and Mathematics and completed his Masters of Arts degree in Management from Webster University (where he attended night school while working full time with the State)  He assumed the position of Administrator of the Food Distribution Program in 1993 and began the Processing Program in South Carolina in 1994.  Since that time, the state has increased the Participating Processors to 34 active contracts.

Please join the School Nutrition Association of South Carolina in congratulating him as he is installed as President at the upcoming ACDA convention at Costa Mesa, CA in May of this year.