North Crawford School District is making strides in enhancing the quality and sustainability of its school meals by incorporating locally sourced ingredients. The initiative began as a response to the disruptions in the food supply chain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a significant shortage of food in grocery stores and schools alike.

During the pandemic, the federal government introduced Supply Chain Assistance Funds and Wisconsin's Local Foods for Schools program, which North Crawford utilized to address these challenges. Jen Kapinus, the Director of Food Services at North Crawford School District, explains, “We were able to take advantage of these funds during a time when sourcing food locally became crucial. The improvement in meal quality from local sources was so significant that we knew we had to continue this approach.”

The district has focused on sourcing beef from three local farms: Young Family Farms, Spring Creek Meats, and Mountain Lane Farms. Kapinus notes, “In our area, we're surrounded by family farms, so it wasn’t difficult to find local suppliers. We ensure that these farms meet USDA standards and fit within our procurement process.”