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Using local providers as vendors to provide your school's lunches has a variety of benefits. All of which makes it a better option than in-school cafeterias.

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In this blog post, we will discuss some of the advantages of using local providers as school lunch vendors. Keep reading to learn more!

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Supporting Your Local Economy

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One of the biggest reasons to use local providers is that it supports the local economy. Small businesses are the backbone of any community, and by using them, you are investing in your community.

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For instance, small businesses often give back to their communities in ways that large corporations don't. They may sponsor local sports teams or donate to local charities. When you support a local business, you are also supporting your community as a whole.

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It's More Cost-Effective

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Believe it or not, using local providers for school lunches is actually more cost-effective than having in-school cafeterias. Large national providers often have to charge more for their products because they have a lot of overhead costs. Small businesses, on the other hand, don't have the same overhead costs.

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In addition to that, school districts typically have to maintain multiple kitchens, which is inefficient when one catering company or vendor can easily provide for multiple schools. It's more economical to use one centralized kitchen instead because there are fewer utility and labor costs involved.

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Also, it's not uncommon for in-school cafeterias to have a high turnover rate. With local providers, you won't have to deal with the hassle of hiring and training kitchen staff.

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Improved Customer Support

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Using local providers helps make managing your school lunch program less of a headache too, as there is better customer support than you'd find with a national provider.

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One, They are more likely to be responsive to customer concerns and complaints. Two, they are more likely to be familiar with the needs of the school and the students.

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Fresher Ingredients & Healthier Food

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A student in rural Texas is likely to find the same greasy hamburgers and soggy fries on their school lunch tray as a student in inner-city Chicago. However, local providers often offer a wider variety of healthy food options that are more specific to the region.

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For instance, a student in California is likely to find fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms, while a student in Maine might find seafood that was caught that morning. As a result, students who have access to local providers are able to eat healthier meals made from fresh ingredients. And every school administrator can relate to the importance of providing students with healthy meals.

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More Flexibility & Customization

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Another advantage of using local providers is that they offer more flexibility and customization. Whether it's accommodating students with allergies or providing kosher or halal meals. Local providers are better equipped to handle these requests since they aren't bound by the same restrictions as large national companies.

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Also, local providers often offer more menu options. This allows schools to mix and match different items to create a well-rounded lunch that meets the needs of all students.

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Environmental Benefits

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Finally, using local providers for school lunches has environmental benefits. When food is sourced locally, it doesn't have to travel as far to get to its destination. This means that there's less of a carbon footprint involved.

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In addition to that, locally-sourced food is often grown using more sustainable practices. For example, farmers might use fewer pesticides or grow food using organic methods. As a result, using local providers is also good for the environment.

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Ordo Makes It Easy

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Now that you know all the benefits of using local providers as school lunch vendors, you might be wondering how to find them. Luckily for you, Ordo can help with that.

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We connect schools with local restaurants, catering companies, and chefs to provide, mouth-watering, homestyle meals for lunch. On top of that, we handle all of the stress when it comes to managing your school lunch program.

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And ready for the best part? It's at no added cost to schools!