K-12 operators still dealing with supply chain challenges, but procurement disruption is easing

Supply chain challenges are still plaguing K-12 operators, but less so than in previous years, according to a new study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

The study surveyed school nutrition operators during the 2023-24 school year through a 20-minute online questionnaire. 

It found that 95% of survey respondents experienced at least one supply chain-related challenge last school year, however, the median number of challenges was less than the previous school year.

High food costs were also reported by 80% of survey respondents, making it the most common challenge cited by operators. 

In order to combat supply chain challenges, 30% of K-12 operators reported increasing the use of scratch cooking and more than 20% of operators reported increasing purchases of local foods. 

While challenges related to overall program costs, increased staff stress or workload, reduced student participation, and difficulty complying with meal pattern requirements have gone down since the 2022-23 school year, the USDA says, labor costs remained a sticking point for K-12 operators and increased during the 2023-24 school year.

The USDA has provided funding over the past few years to help ease supply chain disruptions for K-12 operators. In 2022, it launched the first phase of its $100 million Healthy School Meals Initiative, which is aimed at helping schools increase their scratch-cooking, combat procurement-related issues and more. 

Since then, the department has also routinely made additional funding available to states, to go toward buying local ingredients for use in school meals.