Procurement and the ability to source local, values-aligned products are critical components of a district’s journey toward scratch cooking. This moderated panel will highlight the procurement experiences of several districts and examine how two lesser-known USDA programs—Commodity Letter of Credit (CLOC) and Cash in Lieu—can influence the future of school food procurement and scratch cooking. Though currently limited to select districts, these programs have the potential to significantly impact not only school meal programs but also local economies. The discussion will also explore potential policy changes that could expand access to these programs in the future.
This panel will be moderated by MJ Kepner, the Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy for the Chef Ann Foundation, and feature the following school food operators:
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Danielle Bock, Director of Nutrition Services, Greeley-Evans Weld County School District 6 (Colorado)
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Kelsey Nederveld, Director II, Sacramento City Unified School District (California)
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Jennifer LeBarre, Executive Director, Student Nutrition Services, San Francisco Unified School District (California)
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Kat Soltanmorad, RDN, Director, Food & Nutrition Services, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (California)
Zoom Meeting Information:
ScratchWorks is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Exploring the Future of School Food Procurement Through CLOC and Cash in Lieu
Time: Sep 25, 2025 04:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
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https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82197280688?pwd=pUTOCUgv88MQumjy21pzcdwq1teARv.1
Meeting ID: 821 9728 0688
Passcode: 141089
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