Throughout the 2024/25 school year Farm to Cafeteria Canada hosted School Food Solutions, a monthly working group to discuss how to build and strengthen school food programs in Indigenous communities, and how to bring more Indigenous foods and foodways into schools. 

During the session on Universal Programs, Scott went over the implementation and growth in a universal school food program, emphasizing the need to address food security and meet basic student needs. He emphasized the importance of community involvement, local food partnerships, and a balanced diet in combating both over- and under-nutrition. Scott shared a five-stage incremental approach: initial planning, implementation, development, growth, and operational stages. He also addressed challenges such as logistics, funding, and union issues, suggesting a centralized food distribution system to improve efficiency and quality. The discussion included practical solutions like salad bars and cultural integration to enhance the program’s impact.

View the presentation slides