School cafeterias struggling to keep food on the table

Rising costs for fuel, food and labor are forcing school cafeterias nationwide to raise prices, cut jobs and, in some cases, dip into “rainy day” funds to put food on trays, according to congressional testimony to be delivered today.

The U.S. Agriculture Department chipped in an extra dime a meal last week to help schools pay for lunches. The new maximum rate is now $2.57, up from $2.47 in 2007.


But school nutrition directors say that doesn’t keep pace with costs, which will climb 30 cents a meal this year to a national average of $2.88, the School Nutrition Association says.

Says Katie Wilson, the group’s president-elect: “You can only stretch the food dollar so far.”

USA Today