The School District of the Menomonie Area is finding creative ways to keep local food on students’ plates, even after funding changes.
Stacy Nelson, Food and Nutrition Director with the district and president of the School Nutrition Association of Wisconsin, says school nutrition programs operate as self-sustained businesses. They don’t receive money from the district’s general fund and must cover costs for labor, food, equipment, and supplies through meal reimbursements.
“We survive on participation. For every free, reduced, and paid meal, we receive a specific reimbursement through federal and state reimbursement rates,” she says. “For example, we receive anywhere from roughly 50 cents to $4.70 per meal.”
That balance became more difficult this year after the USDA canceled Wisconsin’s $9 million Local Food for Schools program, which helped districts buy directly from nearby farms. Nelson says the loss was devastating for schools, farmers, and communities, but her team is working to fill the gap.
“Working with the farmers and figuring out ways to make it work for both us is the approach I take,” she says.
In Menomonie, that means finding win-win solutions with producers, such as purchasing lower-grade apples at a discount or building events around local ingredients. On Sept. 22, the district will host “Eat Local Day.” This idea blossomed from a partnership with a group of Dunn County dairy farmers. The menu features grilled cheese made with Wisconsin cheese and a homemade roasted tomato soup. The tomatoes, peppers, onions, and garlic are from a nearby farm. The meal is expected to feed about 1,400 students.
Nelson says the goal remains to increase purchases from local farmers, despite tight budgets.
“When cuts like that happen, I really try to think about what I can do to not let it affect the kids,” she says.
