USA Rice makes inroads at K-12 foodservice level
Nov 15, 2022
ARLINGTON, VA – USA Rice recently created a chef advisory board to gain insights, leverage relationships, and create new tools that will extend the industry’s reach into school kitchens across the country.
The four-member K-12 Chef Advisory Board (CAB) will draw on their expertise and experience to provide feedback on school foodservice initiatives and present opportunities for rice within K-12 operations. The board will inform policy discussions, guide resource creation, and expand USA Rice’s reach to districts nationwide with strong peer-to-peer networks.
The 2022-23 K-12 CAB members are: Bettina Applewhite, registered dietitian-nutritionist, Baltimore County Public Schools, Baltimore, Maryland; Diane Grodek, executive chef for the Austin Independent School District, Austin, Texas; Jason Hull, director of foodservices, Marin Country Day School, Corte Madera, California; Sharon Schaefer, director of food and nutrition services, Gretna Public Schools, Omaha, Nebraska.
“We’re excited to see the impact this board will make in terms of education and exposure for U.S.-grown rice in school foodservice,” said Michael Klein, USA Rice vice president of communications & domestic promotion. “Their guidance will be invaluable in crafting communications and creating resources that speak to all types of school feeding programs, while strengthening the presence of USA Rice within the school foodservice sector.”
CAB board members will help establish relationships, connect with new school districts, and collaborate on recipes. The board’s first project is the creation of a new downloadable K-12 cookbook featuring 10-15 school foodservice rice recipes that CAB members will share with their national school foodservice networks.