Ossining Schools Award Food Contract

Fresh fruit, dark leafy greens, sushi once a week – this is not your father’s school lunch. It is part of a new food service program for Ossining schools, which will provide more diverse food offerings, a farm-to-fork initiative and higher quality foods.

Ossining Union Free School District received three bids from food service management companies to operate cafeterias in the district’s six schools. The bids were opened on June 5 and after a thorough review of each proposal, the Aramark Education proposal was determined to be the lowest responsible bidder. The Board of Education subsequently approved the bid award to Aramark at its June 12th meeting.

The new food service contract requires the food service management company to provide 1% and fat-free milk free of antibiotics and growth hormones; antibiotic and hormone-free poultry, beef and pork; daily salad offerings containing 100 percent dark and leafy greens; more diverse fresh fruit offerings; sushi once a week at the secondary schools; Boar’s Head or equivalent deli meats for all schools; food sourced from local farmers whenever possible; and all-natural chicken nuggets; and a more diverse menu to include baked fish.

The new food service program will also double the guaranteed return to the district. The guaranteed return is used to cover any direct costs incurred by the district, and any excess must be used to fund future food-service program improvements. Current food service workers will retain their jobs and hours and will received wage increases next year as required by the bid specifications.

“The District looks forward to working with Aramark and offering students healthy, diverse and local foods,” said Assistant Superintendent for Business Alita McCoy-Zuber.