Pandemic related supply chain issues, labor shortages undermine school lunch programs

New crisis hits schools: Food and labor shortages caused by pandemic "Between this and the delta variant and so many other things, it's almost worse than the previous year." NBC News

Debilitating supply chain disruptions have upended the beginning of the school year for districts across the country as food shortages force officials to find creative ways to adequately feed children.  ...

The problems stretch from farm to cafeteria table, worsened by the pandemic and greater economic forces: A labor shortage has affected the food distribution and production industries. There's not enough workers on production lines, in warehouses and driving delivery vehicles. And at schools, unfilled cafeteria positions have forced staff to serve lunches and some have stopped providing hot meals altogether. ...