News and Stories

News and Stories

Quality School Meals That Benefit All

In 2021, California became the first state in the nation to provide free breakfast and lunch to all K–12 students. Now we're building on that historic achievement with vital investments for school food infrastructure, staff training, and more freshly prepared California-grown school meals.

Our Partners

The School Meals For All Coalition consists of more than 40 organizations representing education, health and agriculture. We advocate for investments in school meals that fight child hunger, and support rural/agricultural communities. We seek to help mitigate climate change, strengthen regional school food supply chains, and support school nutrition workers.

SMFA Sponsors Embark on Listening Tour

The School Meals For All sponsors are visiting school districts and farms across the state to spotlight successful nutrition programs and learn how we can continue to advocate on their behalf. Read More.

Priorities

Continue free School Meals for All in California

Provide higher reimbursement rates for school meals

Strengthen connections between California farmers and schools

Fund kitchen infrastructure and training to serve freshly-prepared meals

Latest News

School Food Chefs Learn to Plot Healthier Menus With a New Fellowship

With scratch cooking in schools still hard to achieve, the program is training school lunch leaders to leave the heat-and-serve model behind. By Anne Marshall-Chalmers Zena Martinez, a food-program specialist with the Glendale Union High School District in Glendale, Arizona, calls the spicy chicken patty she serves for lunch the “bane of her existence.” The […]

No more nuggets? School lunch goes farm-to-table — for some

By Jocelyn Gecker Jan 24, 2023 CONCORD, Calif. (AP) — As the fine-dining chef at her high school served samples of his newest recipes, Anahi Nava Flores gave her critique of a baguette sandwich with Toscano salami, organic Monterey Jack, arugula and a scratch-made basil spread: “This pesto aioli is good!” Classmate Kentaro Turner devoured […]

School Meals for All Celebration at LAUSD

On December 7th, Los Angeles Unified – the state’s largest school district – hosted California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, Senator Maria Elena Durazo, Assemblymembers Luz Rivas and Miguel Santiago, and Kat Taylor along with members of the School Meals for All Coalition to celebrate and showcase California’s […]