5 things: Minnesota becomes fourth state to provide universal free school meals

In this edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments affecting onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:

1.    Minnesota becomes fourth state to provide universal free school meals

Minnesota has become the fourth state in the country to pass a free school meal program, joining California, Colorado and Maine, with New Mexico expected to follow in the coming weeks when its governor signs a bill already passed by the state legistlature. The Minnesota law will provide free breakfast and lunch to all students from kindergarten through 12th grade, with state funds used to supplement federal funds to provide the free meals to students, regardless of their family's income.

Read more: Minnesota becomes 4th state to offer free school meals

2.    Cal Poly debuts kosher food truck

California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) recently debuted the What’s Cookin Kosher kosher food truck with staffing, menu curation, operation and the majority of its finances all under the jurisdiction of Chabad Rabbi Chaim Hilel, who will oversee all the truck’s activities. The mobile eatery, a Cal Poly truck that Campus Dining agreed to provide the Rabbi for $1 per year, operates weekdays between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and lets students view and place orders on Grubhub.

Related:5 things: LAUSD cafeteria and other support workers set to strike

Read more: Kosher food truck opens on campus, offering traditional Jewish cuisine

3.    Resort opens 24-hour employee-only food hall

Turning Stone Resort Casino in New York is opening TS Marketplace, a new food-hall-style eatery exclusively for resort employees that will operate round the clock to accommodate all shifts. Oneida Nation Enterprises invested more than $1 million in the food hall, which offers food prepared by Turning Stone’s culinary team and includes selections from several of Turning Stone’s most popular restaurants such as Bad Burro Taco Shop, Wicked Good Pizza and Opals Confectionary.

Read more: Turning Stone Opens 24-hour Employee Dining Hall

4.    Study finds mobile food pantry program effective at reducing food insecurity

Food FARMacias could be one part of the solution to the nation's growing food insecurity problem, according to a new study by pediatricians at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and NewYork-Presbyterian. The study found that a Food FARMacia program—a mobile food pantry that allowed parents to choose their own selection of free and healthy foods—was associated with reduced food insecurity in families and had a measurable impact on children's health by reducing childhood obesity risk factors.

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Read more: Food FARMacia program associated with reduced food insecurity and obesity in children

5.    Bon Appetit to end contract with Washington University of St. Louis

Bon Appétit Management Co. has notified Washington University of St. Louis that it is ending its dining and catering services contract at the end of the spring semester on May 18th after 25 years, but did not give details on why in its notification letter. The university says it is now reviewing proposals from other vendors, which will be required to offer employment to all hourly and salaried staff at a rate of pay that is the same or higher than what Bon Appetit was paying.

Read more: Washington U. ends contract with food service provider that employs more than 300

Bonus: Sodexo Live! opens Museum Kitchen at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]