Fairfax County Public Schools joins Urban School Food Alliance

The Urban School Food Alliance (USFA) has welcomed another district into its organization.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) in Falls Church, Va. will be joining the nonprofit, which aims to help member districts by sharing best practices, advocating for policy aimed at improving student meal access, and utilizing its collective purchasing power to provide high-quality student meals while keeping costs down.

In the past, the USFA has helped its member districts adopt an antibiotic-free standard for chicken and turkey. It also recently partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop new educational tools to help schools with procurement challenges. 

With the addition of FCPS, USFA’s membership now includes 19 of the largest school districts in the country. Some of its other member districts include Chicago Public Schools, Boston Public Schools and Seattle Public Schools. 

“We are thrilled to be part of this organization as it provides us with the opportunity to positively impact the direction and perception of school meals in Fairfax County and beyond,” said Shaun Sawko, executive director of food and nutrition services at FCPS, in a statement. “We are eager to network with our fellow large school district peers and collaborate on best practices to overcome our unique challenges.”