USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that a supplement of $750 million would be added to funding for school meal programs in 2022.  This is in addition to the $1.5 billion provided to states and school districts to respond to COVID-related disruptions in supply chains.

The decision to supplement funding was made on the basis of recent escalation in food, labor and operational costs.

It is estimated that schools are receiving approximately 22 percent more for serving lunches than during pre-COVID years.