Minnesota school districts scramble to find lunch food amid supply chain issue

Several dozen school districts in northwestern Minnesota are scrambling to acquire food to feed students after their provider unexpectedly terminated its contract due to supply chain and labor shortage issues.

Fifty-seven school districts that get their food through Lakes Country Service Cooperative were affected when food distributor Cash-Wa ended its contract with the cooperative earlier this month. The provider gave notice of the cancellation in September, saying it could no longer fulfill the districts' needs. The disruption has created a logistical headache for school districts, many of which were already struggling to source certain ingredients and staff their cafeterias.

"It's kind of every district for itself right now," Crookston Public Schools Superintendent Jeremy Olson said. "It's week to week whether or not we're going to be able to get food."

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-school-districts-scramble-to-find-lunch-food-amid-supply-chain-issue/600116799/?refresh=true