Three Servings of Good News for School Foodservice

You serve up smiles every day, so it’s your turn to get some news that’s sunny side up!

Read on to discover three things that have the potential to make your job easier, feed your mind and refresh your spirit, and give your budget a boost.

1. Disposable compartment tray alternatives are available!

Having a tough time sourcing disposable compartment trays or clamshell containers?

The CDC and state health departments recommended disposable food containers earlier in the pandemic, which created extraordinary demand for them across foodservice. Supplies are running low around the country and packaging waste is at an all-time high, but thankfully safety guidance is changing due to new findings.

In Arkansas, for example, the Food Service and School Meals section of the Arkansas Department of Education’s guidelines on COVID-19 published for the 2021-2022 school year states, “Given the very low risk of transmission from surfaces and shared objects, there is no need to limit food service approaches to single-use items and packaged meals.”

If you have access to a commercial dishwasher, re-usable, NSF listed options that you can wash and sanitize are more readily available, cost-effective, and sustainable than disposables.

Reusable Compartment Trays

Colorful, durable, and kid-friendly Cambro 5 and 6 compartment trays are dishwasher safe and NSF listed.

Covered Trays

The durable and hygienic Separator Tray from Cambro  has coordinating lids that snap on for stacking and safe transport to classrooms or anywhere on campus.

Reusable Takeout Containers

The OZZI O2GO container  has the look and functionality of takeout style clamshells, but this dishwasher safe dynamo can be washed and used about three hundred times. 

2.  Valuable New Grant Opportunities

GENYOUth is providing grants of up to $3,000/school for meal distribution and delivery resources. 

This grant qualifies for Cambro GoBags (and may also qualify for GoBoxes and Separator Compartment Trays with Covers mentioned above).

While there is no cut-off date, please apply as soon as you can to have the best chance of getting funds while they’re available. Apply at https://covid-19.genyouthnow.org/

The School Nutrition Foundation has teamed up with industry partners like FWE (Food Warming Equipment) and Cambro to provide new kitchen equipment to deserving districts. Apply now for the 2022 SNF Equipment Grant Program, featuring applications for FIVE grants!

Eligible applicants have the opportunity to win equipment grants, each worth between $20,000 to $100,000 of equipment. For more information, click here. 

3. Professional development opportunities are available virtually and in person!

There’s nothing like spending time with your peers to recharge your creative spirit, develop new skills, and remind yourself that you’re a part of an incredibly special community.

Mississippi School Nutrition Conference in person later this month!

Registration is now open for the Mississippi School Nutrition 51^st Annual Conference which is scheduled to take place in person October 29-30, in Tupelo, Mississippi. 

Click here for registration info.

Foodservice Director’s Menu Directions 2021 is going virtual!

Foodservice Director and Winsight invite you to join the best and brightest operators from all segments of noncommercial foodservice for the Menu Directions Virtual Experience. 

You’ll get the same incredible industry content, insights, and networking as their past live events have offered, but with a smaller time commitment, no travel and no cost to register. 

You choose which date works best for you: Oct. 19, Oct. 20, Nov. 9 or Nov. 10. Registration is complimentary, but also limited. Don’t miss out!

Need help tackling a challenge or identifying proven serving solutions? We’re here for you—and bonus good news—our services are free. Contact us.