Procuring Good Food at School

Table 8. Impact of Challenge

COUNT PERCENT

What is the impact of this challenge on you, your colleagues, or your students? Additional costs, time

478

31% 20% 19% 20%

Limited pricing and food options

311

Disruption of menu and kitchen operations Limited student food options/Preferences

289 308

N/A or No impact

80 95 90 52 53 36 33 19

5% 6% 6% 3% 3% 2% 2%

Stressful work environment

Poor quality of food Waste of resources

Confusion for SFAs and vendors Ability to stay compliant Food and equipment delays

Logistical coordination Poor quality of equipment

1% 1%

Table 9. Additional Challenges Faced

COUNT PERCENT Are there any other school food procurement challenges you have faced in the last year that were not captured in the above list? None 405 51% High-cost food products 90 11% Food availability 67 8% Other (Challenges mentioned fewer than 10 times) 58 7% Complex regulatory requirements 45 6% Delivery/Storage 23 3% Lack of funds 18 2% Procurement takes too much time 17 2% Access to local products 15 2% Staff retention/Hiring 12 2% Poor quality of food 11 1% Limited vendor pool 11 1% Buy American 10 1% Unique rural challenges 10 1%

37 Procuring Good Food at School: From Contracts to Lunch Trays |