Due to labor shortages, many K-12 kitchens struggle to provide from-scratch meals to students. Some of these kitchens also may not be designed with the equipment needed to properly support a scratch cooking model. However, there are grants and assistance programs available to support school districts with a move toward school menu planning that incorporates fresh fruits, vegetables and proteins.
In the spring of 2024, a new Hobart CLeN Ventless Conveyor Type Dishmachine was installed in the central kitchen of Albany Unified School District (AUSD) in California, thanks in part to grant funding from StopWaste, a public agency focused on reducing waste in Alameda County. The dishmachine allows the school district to switch from disposable to reusable ware, reducing the amount of waste being...
At Victor Central School District, they have a saying: “Fresh is Best” — and they lead by example for their pre-K to twelfth grade students. Their food service program consists of 25% of from-scratch menu items with ingredients sourced from local farms, with many of those being served in the high school cafeteria. They have the goal of reaching 40% by the end of the school year and expanding more...
