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One on One With: ScratchWorks looks to promote scratch-food prep for K-12 school meals

Mara Fleishman of the Chef Ann Foundation talks about the ScratchWorks organization and its initiatives to get more scratch cooking into schools.

Mike Buzalka, Executive Features Editor

November 13, 2020

2 Min Read
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ScratchWorks is an organization founded in 2019 to promote cooking school meals from scratch by a collection of school nutrition professionals and nonprofit organizations with a commitment to improving K-12 foodservice. The founding members include six highly respected school foodservice directors and six supporting organizations. The founding school nutrition professionals are:

  • Ann Cooper, director of food services for the Boulder Valley School District in Colorado;

  • Robert Jaber, executive director of food & nutrition services for the District of Columbia Public Schools in Washington, DC;

  • Amy Maclosky, director of food & nutrition services for the Arlington Public Schools in Virginia;

  • Stephen O'Brien, director of strategic partnerships & policy for the New York City Department of Education Food & Nutrition Services;

  • Anneliese Tanner, executive director of food services & warehouse operations for the Austin ISD in Texas; and

  • Bertrand Weber, director of culinary & wellness services for the Minneapolis Public Schools in Minnesota.

Joining them are the following nonprofits: Brigaid, the Chef Ann Foundation, Harlem Children's Zone, Life Time Foundation, Wellness in the Schools and Whole Kids Foundation.

In this podcast interview, Mara Fleishman, CEO of the Chef Ann Foundation, talks about the organization, its goals and the initiatives it has undertaken both during the current coronavirus pandemic and its plans for the post-COVID environment.

Food Management · One on One With: ScratchWorks looks to promote scratch-food prep for K-12 school meals

 

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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