As we begin the 2025–26 school year, I’m filled with optimism for what lies ahead for Community Roots School Food Services Agency. This is our very first year serving as the unified school food agency for Western Nevada County, and we are now proudly providing meals at 29 sites, from preschools to high schools, across our region. While we’re not transforming the entire school food system overnight, we are taking meaningful, steady steps forward.
Our goal is simple: to make school meals healthier, more local, and more connected to the communities we serve. We’ve started this year by improving our procurement practices, ensuring that the food on our students’ plates tells a story of quality and care. All of the meats we purchase* will be sourced from California farms that use regenerative or sustainable practices, and all of our poultry will come from Pittman Farms, better known as Mary’s Chicken, which is renowned for its commitment to animal welfare and high-quality production. You’ll also see more local produce featured on our salad bars this year, bringing fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables from nearby fields directly to our students.
This is just the start of our journey toward more scratch-cooked meals. We know that achieving that vision will take time, training, and teamwork. While many of our food service team members have been serving their schools for years, scratch cooking in a school kitchen can be a new opportunity for growth. This year, we will be investing in professional development, ranging from knife skills and cooking techniques to menu planning and mission-based decisionmaking in order to prepare our staff for the exciting shift ahead.
We also have the pleasure of welcoming three additional schools to our Community Roots family: Bitney Prep High School, Yuba River Charter School, and Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning High School. Their addition strengthens our reach and affirms our commitment to serving students from preschool through high school across our community.
The year ahead is full of possibility. We will keep listening, learning, and improving, always with the goal of serving meals that fuel both bodies and minds. While we are just getting started on the road to our ultimate vision, we are proud of the change we have accomplished thus far and are eager to share our continued progress with you. Thank you for joining us on this journey.
With gratitude,
Sam KoneffKlatt, Executive Director
* In the spirit of total transparency: some meats we receive through the USDA Entitlement program are sourced directly by the USDA, and we cannot speak to the quality or production methods of those items