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Contact: Diane Pratt-Heavner
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SNA Welcomes USDA Supply Chain Funds
2021-12-17
ARLINGTON, VA – The non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) distribution of $1.5 billion in supply chain assistance funds for schools through USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). SNA President-Elect Lori Adkins, SNS, joined Deputy Under Secretary for USDA’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, Stacy Dean in discussing the importance of the new funds for school meal programs, struggling with the impact of widespread supply chain disruptions and rising costs.
SNA’s recent national survey of school nutrition directors found virtually every program is struggling with shortages of menu items, supplies and packaging, as well as rising costs.
“School meal programs are paying much higher prices in the scramble to place additional orders and find new vendors when their deliveries are shorted, cancelled or delayed,” says Adkins. “SNA is extremely grateful for USDA’s ongoing support and regulatory waivers for school nutrition professionals as they confront supply chain challenges. These new funds will help school meal programs manage higher costs, while allowing students to continue enjoying nutritious, American-grown foods in school meals.”
According to USDA’s release: USDA will provide $1 billion for schools to purchase food for their meal programs and another $300 million for states to purchase foods to be distributed to schools. An additional $200 million will be used for cooperative agreements to purchase local foods for schools with a focus on buying from historically underserved producers.
About School Nutrition Association:
The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing 50,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. Founded in 1946, SNA and its members are dedicated to making healthy school meals and nutrition education available to all students. For more information on school meals, visit www.SchoolNutrition.org/SchoolMeals
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