Food Services Leading the Way on Climate Friendly Practices

After the pandemic, the federal and state governments started funding free meals for all students. While the federal reimbursement to cover paid meals went away, California has continued to fund this effort, ensuring Universal Free Meals for all students. The number of meals we served pre-pandemic (18-19): 509,700 to today (SY23-24): 1,285,410 is extraordinary. More than doubling our meal participation has allowed our Food & Nutrition Services department to grow exponentially both in staff and in the number of meals we are able to serve our students. The average daily meals served has risen from 2,832 in 2018-19 to 7,141 in 2023-24!

Even before this was put in place, SLCUSD was focused on Farm to Table practices and expanding the relationships with local farms and businesses. Buying local allows for a reduction in shipping and transportation, provides the freshest tasting foods of the season, and ensures dollars are kept right here in our own county. Our efforts have been honored with state and national recognition, such as Golden Bell and MAGNA awards.

Daily vegetarian options are now the norm throughout the district, along with a variety of fresh produce choices and other high quality goods. We are cooking less processed/packaged foods and ensure items are minimally processed/clean label if we use a premade item. Food & Nutrition Services supports our summer culinary experience and our school gardens program as well. We have school gardens throughout the district and attempt to connect them to our school cafeterias and curriculum projects. We want all students to have a connection with where their food comes from.

As part of the new laws in California with SB 1383, we also have implemented composting and recycling programs at all of our sites. We have share tables where students can place unwanted food items like whole fruit or crackers, which can be taken by someone else, donated to a local food rescue organization, or put in the compost, all avoiding the landfill.

Below is a list of the 50 local businesses we work with; 25 are direct with local farms!