By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Picture the old elementary school cafeteria: plastic trays and metal silverware dropped into buckets of chlorinated water. The school lunch has changed a lot in recent years. Not only have dietary concerns changed, especially regarding sodium and sugar, but USD 428 Food Service Director Kristy Alvord revealed during last Monday's board of education meeting that rising prices are also a concern.
"Another regulation that's kind of a big one is the Buy American Act that we are having to follow now," she said. "Previously, my responsibility for the Buy American Act was really to create an Excel sheet at the beginning of the school year, noting every item that was a non-domestic food item, then just giving the exception of why I could not use it."
Per new United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, districts must spend no more than 10 percent of food costs on non-domestic items. In two years, that figure will drop to eight percent. Two years after that, the number will be five percent.
"To ensure this new regulation is being followed, and we are compliant, now we have to track every non-domestic food purchase - the cost, the quantity - and write the exception every time we purchase something," Alvord said. "Now, it's a weekly tracking we have to do, and making sure we're not going over that 10 percent. It has added a lot of paperwork."
While food costs have increased across the board, Alvord noted especially significant rises in domestic juice prices. USD 428's vendor has eliminated non-domestic options.
"My apple juice went up $4.83 per case, and I get about 60 cases a week," said Alvord. "My grape juice is up $6.51 a case. Orange juice actually went down, which is a great thing. Food cost has been rising, and it's something we have to deal with on a daily basis, but this Buy American Act is adding a lot of cost to us."
Alvord said there is a small caveat to the policy change. There is a USDA-approved exception that states if competitive bids reveal the cost of U.S. foods is significantly higher, districts can purchase non-domestic products. Alvord is currently rebidding out apple and grape juice for non-domestic products that are cheaper.