The first indication of a collective, organized food distribution system within the Roman Republic comes from the "annona". Originally meaning "yearly return", the "annona" became the administrative term for governmental bread and grain distribution. Over time, "annona" came to represent the distribution of all pertinent foods in the Roman diet. The "annona" was originally organized between 500 and 50 BCE, and gained increasing influence in the centuries to come. The practice of specifically distributing grain to the plebeian class, known as "frumentationes", gained prominence around 120 BCE and supplemented the efforts of the "annona" to feed the Roman people. Emperor Augustus officially changed the "annona" system between 8 and 14 CE. He established the position of "praefectus annonae", Prefect of the Annona. Up to this point in time, the "annona" was handled by local government officials called aediles. Augustus’ Prefect of the "Annona" oversaw all transportation, weighing, inspection, and storing of state foods.