By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
USD 428 Director of Food Services Kristy Alvord says following federal nutrition guidelines can sometimes be difficult when preparing meals for thousands of students. Students are not always keen on whole grain foods or items with less sodium that meet guidelines.
One item that has gone over really well is fresh fruit. Alvord has accepted local vendors to provide fruit to the students.
"I am looking into farm to school," said Alvord. "I worked with a watermelon grower from Ellinwood. He brought in 50 watermelons and we cut them all up and sent them out to the schools."
The Food Services for the Great Bend school district has six vendors that they order food from. Alvord will often send out bids for their items.
USD 428 prepares approximately 2,300 lunches and 800 breakfasts every weekday.