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Top 15 K-12 food service stories of 2023

The year’s top K-12 stories tracked how school nutrition programs and providers tackled issues like labor shortages and product availability to keep kids fed with nutritious meals.

Mike Buzalka, Executive Features Editor

December 13, 2023

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School nutrition programs faced challenging times over the past year with the end of federal universal meal subsidies leading to participation decreases where the previous system of free/reduced eligibility was reintroduced. Meanwhile, labor issues centered on cost and availability, plus a struggle to secure consistent product that meets school nutrition guidelines added further complications.

Nevertheless, the school nutrition community found ways to deal with the challenges, and FM covered their progress. 

Here are 15 stories from the past year highlighting K-12 dining programs...

About the Author

Mike Buzalka

Executive Features Editor, Food Management

Mike Buzalka is executive features editor for Food Management and contributing editor to Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News. On Food Management, Mike has lead responsibility for compiling the annual Top 50 Contract Management Companies as well as the K-12, College, Hospital and Senior Dining Power Players listings. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from John Carroll University. Before joining Food Management in 1998, he served as for eight years as assistant editor and then editor of Foodservice Distributor magazine. Mike’s personal interests range from local sports such as the Cleveland Indians and Browns to classic and modern literature, history and politics.

Mike Buzalka’s areas of expertise include operations, innovation and technology topics in onsite foodservice industry markets like K-12 Schools, Higher Education, Healthcare and Business & Industry.

Mike Buzalka’s experience:

Executive Features Editor, Food Management magazine (2010-present)

Contributing Editor, Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News (2016-present)

Associate Editor, Food Management magazine (1998-2010)

Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1997-1998)

Assistant Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1989-1997)

 

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