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School Food
The Urban School Food Alliance is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created by school food service professionals in 2012 to address the unique needs of the nation’s largest school districts. Our members collaborate to share best practices, develop procurement standards, and advocate for the health and wellness of students.
By the Numbers
Each step we take makes us hungrier for progress, resulting in more smiling students in our schools.
Districts
Participating
Schools
Served
Million
Students
Million
Meals Served
Million
Spent on Procurement
The Urban School Food Alliance has entered the 2024 Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA) Annual Nonprofit Photo Contest, and you can help us win funding and a platform to share our mission. Click the button below between now and 5:00 p.m. E.T. on November 22, 2024 to vote for USFA. Each person may vote once during the contest period.
Your continued support makes our work possible!
Plastic Free Lunch Day returns!
Check out Cafeteria Culture’s Plastic Free Lunch Overview via this link and Toolkit via this link, and also view specific USFA Plastic Free Lunch resources at our Resource Center!
Our
Responsibility
With the majority of our students qualifying for free or reduced-priced meals due to financial hardships, school meals provide the most consistent source of daily nutrition for these children. As the Alliance, we understand our great responsibility to provide access to healthy meals for our students. When students eat well, they also do well in school.
Our
Approach
To provide fresh, healthy and delicious meals to students, member districts work together on policy, share best practices and leverage our purchasing power to continue to drive food quality up and costs down while incorporating sound environmental practices.
Prioritizing
School Meals
“School meals play a critical role in a child’s ability to succeed in the classroom and in the future. The Urban School Food Alliance uses the collective strength of its member districts to ensure that the quality and accessibility of those meals is never diminished.”
Dr. Katie Wilson, Executive Director
Working Together:
Our Districts
Urban School Food Alliance began in 2012 with 6 founding districts: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, and Orlando. Since then USFA has grown our membership to include 18 districts across the United States, working together to provide fresh, healthy and delicious meals to students.
Partners & Supporters
The Alliance is made possible in part by the hard work and generosity of our partners and supporters, who are dedicated to furthering our mission and shaping the future of school meals nationwide.
Join the Conversation
Latest News
The latest news and headlines from Urban School Food Alliance
AMNY: Op-Ed | A recipe for change: NYC’s journey to healthy, delicious school meals
Nov 5, 2024
From amNew York: "School food has long been synonymous with unappetizing meals. During my own school days, I...
Urban School Food Alliance welcomes Gwinnett County Public Schools to membership
Aug 15, 2024
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2024 – The Urban School Food Alliance, a collaborative of the largest school districts in...
D Magazine: The Hardest Working Cooks in Dallas
Aug 13, 2024
Tiny children at Julian T. Saldivar Elementary School line up in their classrooms promptly at 10 am before...
USFA wins Summit Award at ASAE
Jul 25, 2024
WASHINGTON, July 25, 2024 – The Urban School Food Alliance is honored to announce that it has been recognized by...