NAZARETH, Pa. - Some Lehigh Valley school districts are experiencing supply chain issues - a trend that dates back to the beginning of the pandemic.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education warned school districts in July 2021 of supply chain shortages and expected increases in food costs. Those problems are apparently continuing as the calendar turns to 2023 and nears the fourth year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Supply chain issues are affecting food options for local school districts
- The shortages are in chicken, breakfast foods and snacks
- Food service officials aren't expecting solutions any time soon
National production issues have caused food shortages and price increases for area school districts. Nazareth Area School District’s Donna Garr says food service officials are monitoring their reserve of staples like chicken, french toast and Smuckers Peanut Butter and Jelly Uncrustables.
“Bag snacks from Lay's as well as Herr’s are in short supply,” she told school board members in November. “This includes chips, pretzels, popcorn and Doritos.”
Southern Lehigh and Bethlehem Area school districts say they are also short of Uncrustables, french toast and pancake items. And lettuce is expensive.
Bethlehem Area School District officials say items like chicken patties, lettuce and french toast are pricey or in short supply.
Earlier this year, Tyson Foods Inc. said it was struggling with poultry supply chain constraints and raised its prices by 20%. Recently, it said it planned to increase the production of chicken and other products by building several new plants.
Garr says Nazareth is also having trouble with stocking juices that come in aluminum cans, such as Envy, Switch and Izze.
"This is in part to the large amount of hard seltzers, the White Claws, the Vizzys, the High Noons, the beer companies, and the alcohol companies are all manufacturing,”Donna Garr, food services director for the Nazareth School District
“This is in part to the large amount of hard seltzers, the White Claws, the Vizzys, the High Noons, the beer companies, and the alcohol companies are all manufacturing,” she said. “They’re taking all of the aluminum for those cans.”
Southern Lehigh School District officials say they're also having trouble finding Pillsbury Mini Pancakes and pastry dough. Superintendent Michael Mahon said the district also encountered problems obtaining roofing materials for construction projects.
