Challenges Threatening the Sustainability of School Meal Programs

The sustainability of school meal programs is increasingly threatened by procurement challenges, including regulatory constraints, supply chain disruptions, and budgetary pressures. This capstone project examines how values-based procurement (VBP)—which prioritizes local, sustainable, and nutritionally rich food—can be integrated into school meal programs despite these challenges. Worcester Public Schools (WPS) serves as a case study to illustrate the obstacles districts face in implementing VBP and the opportunities available for improving procurement models. Key findings from this research highlight the following: • Regulatory Constraints: Federal procurement policies, while intended to ensure fairness, often create barriers for schools trying to source locally or from small-scale vendors. • Supply Chain Disruptions: Labor shortages and food distribution inefficiencies continue to challenge schools’ ability to maintain consistent meal quality.