Dear School Leaders,

We write to you today to share updated information on a national issue related to food supply and costs, which is impacting our school nutrition programs.

Throughout the pandemic, food manufacturers and distributors have had to continually shift their product development, packaging, and distribution to adjust to supply shortages and the continually changing needs of individuals and industry, as guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Each shift is time-consuming and costly. In addition, the food manufacturing and distributing industry is facing many of the same challenges other industries are facing, including staffing and labor shortages, and rising costs of materials and transportation.

As a result, the Office of Food and Nutrition is beginning to feel the effects of the disruption to the supply chain in the following manner:

• Product shortages resulting in using different products at different schools
• Product cancellations resulting in last-minute menu changes
• Manufacturers suspending production on menu favorites resulting in serving less popular menu items
• Late trucks arriving at JP resulting in expediting issues to our schools
• Poor quality of fresh fruits and vegetables

We all know access to consistent nutritious meals is fundamentally important to all students as they learn and grow. We will need to continually work together as a district to navigate these challenges for the foreseeable future.

Thank you for everything you do on behalf of our school community.