National supply chain delays are affecting school menus for Las Cruces Public Schools. Despite the challenges, Las Cruces Public School administrators assure parents that nutritional guidelines for students are still being met.
Transportation delays and labor shortages have contributed to short supplies of certain food items that had already been scheduled for breakfast and lunch menus. Staples like chicken nuggets, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, pancakes and pineapple chunks have been unavailable from food suppliers. According to administrators, unavailability of certain items requires nutrition services staff to make changes to the menu.
“We are still providing healthy, nutritious meals for our students,” said Fred Montalvo, director of operations for LCPS. “We just have to make substitutions based on what our suppliers have available to our district.”
Montalvo said he appreciates parents’ and students’ patience and understanding while the district works to meet the challenge. It is unknown when shortfalls of certain products will begin to be replenished.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act allowed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to issue waivers for all students in public schools across New Mexico, allowing every student to receive free breakfast and lunch.