John P. Huston, TribLocal reporter
Wilmette public schools are making an effort this year to feed students fresh, locally grown produce for lunch.
District 39 has six schools with their own self-sustaining kitchens that prepare fresh meals for about 75 percent of its 3,700 students every day.
Lisa Winter, the district’s food service coordinator, sees it as an opportunity to make a positive impact on the area’s economy and environment.
But there’s one catch – money.
The district is projecting deficits in coming years, so every dollar counts.
“If it’s not more money, we’re trying to use more local produce,” Winter said. “We are in a financial bind right now, so it isn’t supposed to cost more.”
That’s a bit of a problem. Local – and especially organic – produce often carries a heftier price tag.
Winter has been working with the district’s food supplier, Sysco, to negotiate lower prices. For example, she was able to get the supplier to match its regular price for locally grown romaine, cantaloupes and green peppers..
“It helps with everyone’s carbon footprint,” Winter said. “If it doesn’t come from far away, that’s good.”
Locally grown means less gasoline to ship. And it means a local farm gets a little extra business.
Not to mention it’s fresh.
From another distributor, District 39 was able to get 175 ears of corn from a farm in Chicago Heights. It arrived in Wilmette less than 24 hours after it was picked.
“Nobody realizes it, but within 50 miles there are farms,” Winter said.
The schools will continue to buy and serve local produce “for as long as Sysco continues to provide it and if it’s not more money,” she said.
But the company can’t always lower its prices for the school district.
“I had an option yesterday to do tomatoes, but it was more money and I just can’t,” Winter said.
