Board renews nutrition services contract; district highlights farm‑to‑school sourcing plans

The board on July 17 accepted the nutrition-services bid for the 2025–26 school year and heard updates on the district’s local food procurement and farm-to-school efforts.

A district food-services representative explained the vendor selection process and said most food-service procurement is handled through a cooperative that meets Oregon Department of Education and USDA requirements; the district goes out to bid primarily for produce. The board accepted the recommended vendor (recorded in the meeting as Caruso Proves) for the coming year.

Why it matters: the vendor decision determines who supplies meals to students and affects the district’s ability to source locally. The food-services staff said much of the district’s ground beef and potatoes are locally produced in the Klamath Basin and that the district procures pork through local processors; staff reported planning to seek farm-to-school grant awards to expand local offerings, including a planned salmon event in November in partnership with Chiloquin.

Supply and contingency: board members asked about the closure of one processor and whether it would affect beef or pork supply. Staff said beef sourcing is not affected and that pork has contingency plans, including local producers and a new small facility in Lakeview that may become available. The district expects details of the farm-to-school grant amounts to be announced soon.

Action: board approved the nutrition-services contract for 2025–26 as presented.