The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing up to $1.5 billion to help school nutrition programs manage supply chain issues due to COVID-19.
The funds will go towards supporting the procurement of agricultural commodities, and they will also allow USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to “enhance the toolbox" for school nutrition teams as they work to maintain student access to healthy foods, according to a news release published today by the USDA.
This isn't the first move the department has made recently to address disruptions to the supply chain. Earlier this month, the USDA issued a waiver allowing school nutrition teams to serve meals that don’t meet meal pattern requirements due to product shortages.
Nutrition programs throughout the country have been struggling with supply scarcity, with many having to change menus at the last minute as a result. Dallas ISD announced earlier this month that it would be switching to only finger foods during select meals to help cut back on silverware.