Driving solutions for America’s largest school nutrition programs since 2012.
USFA ACCOMPLISHMENTS Driving solutions for America’s largest school nutrition programs since 2012
USFA created the specification for the first compostable school lunch plate. The U.S.-made design featured a round plate with a center milk-carton square (2014). As this project evolved, so did our understanding of district needs - finding that biodegradable options were preferred. Today, a variety of biodegradable tray options are widely available from multiple manufacturers at school-friendly prices.
Sustainable Servingware
COVID RESPONSE, EMERGENCY Feeding, & BEYOND
Extended Meal Access
Partnered with members to win USDA waivers for weekly food boxes during long school breaks (including Ramadan). We believe no child should face an empty plate simply because the calendar says school is closed.
Quadrupled member support with weekly crisis calls. Secured nationwide USDA waiver for bulk home food deliveries. Helped develop the fruit & vegetable box (feeds 4 children for a week), and is now a permanent part of the DOD program. Raised $3M+ for member cash grants. Won national ASAE award for “Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation.” When schools closed overnight, we refused to let children go hungry. We moved faster, raised more, and fought harder so every family could keep food on the table.
Non-Congregate Summer Meals
Secured clear USDA guidance allowing urban districts to serve non-congregate meals in their rural areas. Continues advocating for universal non-congregate summer meals (House bill introduced). Summer hunger does not respect city limits—and neither do we.
Because the protein kids eat most deserved the focused attention of the Alliance too, we developed No-Antibiotic-Ever (NAE) chicken specifications through our Boost The Roost Pilot Project. As a partner in the Ingredient Guide for Better School Food Purchasing, we collaborated with the Antibiotic Resistance Center at GWU to create a clean-label standard for school meals. This work opened new marketplaces for smaller processors, and today four major companies supply NAE chicken through the USDA Foods Program.
CLEANER PROTEIN
More Major Accomplishments
UrbanSchoolFoodAlliance.org
USFA ACCOMPLISHMENTS Driving solutions for America’s largest school nutrition programs since 2012
Delivered free national training (TeamUp Procurement, Local-Producer Webinars, Equipment Summits, K-12 specific plant-based culinary courses at the CIA). These events have hosted over 2,000 attendees from districts of all sizes. In addition, The Alliance offers 56+ CEUs annually to our members. We invest in the people who feed America’s children because stronger operators create stronger school nutrition programs.
Professional Development
Medical Leadership
Exclusive Member Grants
Through our initiative, School Lunch is Healthcare , we appointed the first-ever Medical Advisor, a pediatric endocrinologist, who delivers short medical seminars on the importance of school meals and provides in-service training, with American Academy of Pediatrics support. We brought medicine into the conversation so the health benefits of school meals are impossible to ignore.
$70,000 – Eat Real Program Participation $50,000 – School food business-plan pilot for USDA $10,000 – Medical Advisor district in-service When our members innovate, we make sure the dollars follow so good ideas can scale. Secured dedicated funding for USFA member districts, including:
The Urban School Food Alliance (USFA) is a data-driven nonprofit founded in 2012 by school nutrition professionals in large districts with a mission to change the landscape of child nutrition. For nearly 15 years, its members have worked to improve food quality, access, and sustainability. In addition to these major achievements, the USFA website offers a variety of free resources, tools, and best practices to school nutrition leaders nationwide. USFA leverages this expertise and experience to share evidence-informed practices, make high-quality ingredients available and affordable, and advocate for policies that support programs and students.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION www.UrbanSchoolFoodAlliance.org
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