© 2024
NPR for Northern Colorado
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

School cafeterias grapple with food supply and staffing shortages

File photo of Norma Ordonez preparing take-away lunches on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 for students kept out of class because of the coronavirus at Rihard Castro Elementary School, in west Denver.
David Zalubowski
/
AP
File photo of Norma Ordonez preparing take-away lunches on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 for students kept out of class because of the coronavirus at Rihard Castro Elementary School, in west Denver.

Breakdowns in food supply chain systems are causing shortages in breakfast and lunch programs at schools across the country, including in Colorado. This means schools are having to change and pare down daily menus for students, in addition to dealing with staff shortages in cafeterias.

Beth Wallace is the executive director for Food and Nutrition Services at Jefferson County Schools. She is also the president of the National School Nutritional Association. We spoke with her about what’s happening in school cafeterias.

As a producer for Colorado Edition, I pitch segment ideas, pre-interview guests, craft scripts and cut audio. I also write tweets, build web posts and occasionally host.
As the host of KUNC’s new program and podcast In the NoCo, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. Northern Colorado is such a diverse and growing region, brimming with history, culture, music, education, civic engagement, and amazing outdoor recreation. I love finding the stories and voices that reflect what makes NoCo such an extraordinary place to live.