Global supply chain issues continue to bear down on places the Upstate, including school districts.The Greenville County School District is the largest in the state, feeding tens of thousands of students every day.Like many others around the country, the district is facing supply chain delays and shortages in food for school meals and disposable cafeteria products. “What we can count on is we can’t count on anything,” district Food and Nutrition Services Director Joe Urban said. Urban said they used to be able to plan out breakfast and lunch menus months in advance. At the beginning of the school year, he said, they were planning two weeks out, but they’ve since been forced to plan meals with even less time in advance.“We’re planning that out a week at a time, where it used to be months at a time before, but that still changes sometimes,” Urban said.This week, Urban let families know a few lunches on the menu would have to be substituted after finding out they wouldn’t be getting a large shipment of chicken they had anticipated. “Manufacturers are having staffing issues, which are causing disruptions to their production lines,” he said. “The transportation issue is without drivers to the number they need.”The shortages and delays aren’t only with food, but with disposable products like plates and utensils. “We have stockpiled some, so we have 12 weeks worth of items necessary,” Urban said. “They may be different. It may be a clamshell to-go container. It may be a traditional school tray. It may be a 10-inch round plate. Something to put food on.” Urban said it’s a perfect storm for supply chain issues right now, but said he’s in communication with manufacturers.“Still, at the end of the day, we still have to make sure we’re serving 82,000 meals a day to kids,” he said.Urban said the district has numerous back-ups and contingency plans for school meals and disposable products. “We’re doing vastly better than most people, because we have such good, strong relationships, but it’s still a struggle,” he said. “I’m worried about what March looks like at this point or what February looks like at this point.”Urban said he’s asked manufacturers when the issues are expected to be resolved, but he hasn’t gotten any word on when things could return to normal.He said he assures families there are still plenty of meals to go around. He said families can still expect their children to get meals they usually do at school.“You keep sending your kids to us,” Urban said. “We’re going to find a way to take care of your kids. That’s not a problem whatsoever.”Urban said he’s tried to notify families in the event meals change each week due to these issues.
Global supply chain issues continue to bear down on places the Upstate, including school districts.
The Greenville County School District is the largest in the state, feeding tens of thousands of students every day.
Like many others around the country, the district is facing supply chain delays and shortages in food for school meals and disposable cafeteria products.
“What we can count on is we can’t count on anything,” district Food and Nutrition Services Director Joe Urban said.
Urban said they used to be able to plan out breakfast and lunch menus months in advance. At the beginning of the school year, he said, they were planning two weeks out, but they’ve since been forced to plan meals with even less time in advance.
“We’re planning that out a week at a time, where it used to be months at a time before, but that still changes sometimes,” Urban said.
This week, Urban let families know a few lunches on the menu would have to be substituted after finding out they wouldn’t be getting a large shipment of chicken they had anticipated.
“Manufacturers are having staffing issues, which are causing disruptions to their production lines,” he said. “The transportation issue is without drivers to the number they need.”
The shortages and delays aren’t only with food, but with disposable products like plates and utensils.
“We have stockpiled some, so we have 12 weeks worth of items necessary,” Urban said. “They may be different. It may be a clamshell to-go container. It may be a traditional school tray. It may be a 10-inch round plate. Something to put food on.”
Urban said it’s a perfect storm for supply chain issues right now, but said he’s in communication with manufacturers.
“Still, at the end of the day, we still have to make sure we’re serving 82,000 meals a day to kids,” he said.
Urban said the district has numerous back-ups and contingency plans for school meals and disposable products.
“We’re doing vastly better than most people, because we have such good, strong relationships, but it’s still a struggle,” he said. “I’m worried about what March looks like at this point or what February looks like at this point.”
Urban said he’s asked manufacturers when the issues are expected to be resolved, but he hasn’t gotten any word on when things could return to normal.
He said he assures families there are still plenty of meals to go around. He said families can still expect their children to get meals they usually do at school.
“You keep sending your kids to us,” Urban said. “We’re going to find a way to take care of your kids. That’s not a problem whatsoever.”
Urban said he’s tried to notify families in the event meals change each week due to these issues.
