January 7, 2025
The USDA reports that 95% of school food service authorities faced supply chain challenges in the 2023-24 school year, with high food costs, staffing shortages and product availability as the top issues. Food service materials were more readily available than the previous year and cost concerns had decreased, but staffing remained a significant issue, with the number of schools reporting shortages staying the same as the previous year at 57%. The percentage of school food service authorities reporting that they were operating at a surplus or breaking even had declined notably.