School Meals, John Oliver, and How We Can Make a Difference Together

Melissa Motejunas, director of sales and marketing

Hey friends!

Did you catch John Oliver’s recent Last Week Tonight episode on school meals? If not, you’ve gotta check it out—it’s funny, insightful, and, honestly, hits on some fundamental issues. Oliver called out how underfunded school meal programs are nationwide, with schools only getting around $1.25 per student after all the overhead costs. It’s crazy to think that with so little, schools are expected to provide nutritious meals for growing kids!

But there’s hope, and John highlighted some significant progress. States like Minnesota, Maine, and Massachusetts have already stepped up by providing universal free school meals for students, making sure no child has to worry about going hungry during the school day. These programs are a game-changer for fighting food insecurity and removing the stigma that can come with free meals.

And here’s where Harvesting Good comes in! Our mission is all about making nutritious, local food more accessible to schools while also supporting our local farmers. Take Boston Public Schools, for example. Thanks to our partnership, they’ve served over 1.5 million servings of our locally sourced frozen broccoli—and they’re doing it all year round! That means more nutritious meals for students and more support for the local economy. How awesome is that?

We believe schools shouldn’t have to choose between affordability and quality, which is why we’re so proud to partner with districts like those in Massachusetts and Maine, where free meal programs are paving the way for healthier, more sustainable school lunches. Together, we’re making sure that local produce is not only available but also making a real difference in the lives of kids and in the livelihoods of our farmers.

John Oliver hit the nail on the head when he said that school meals are an investment in our kids’ futures. With better funding and local procurement options, we can help ensure that no child goes hungry and that we’re all doing our part to support our communities.

So, let’s keep this conversation going and continue working toward better school meals for all. You can watch John Oliver’s take on the issue here on HBO. Trust me, it’s worth it for the laughs and the call to action.

Thanks for tuning in, friends! Together, we can make a real impact, one nutritious school meal at a time.

Warmly,

Melissa