PPS is purchasing healthier, more sustainable food. Federal cuts could limit that progress.
90.5 WESA | By Jillian Forstadt
Published April 17, 2025 at 5:30 AM EDT
Pittsburgh Public Schools is well on its way to meeting its goals for procuring more sustainable and nutritious food for students.
District leaders on Wednesday shared with local stakeholders the results of a baseline assessment of the district’s food purchasing practices during the 2022-2023 school year. The report, compiled by the Center for Good Food Purchasing, found that more than 15% of the district’s $5.6 million food budget that year was spent on items from local and family-owned suppliers.
“It’s something since 2017, we’ve been talking to our produce vendors and saying, ‘We want local,’” said chef Malik Hamilton, the district’s director of food services.
