WAUKESHA - Hot lunch prices in schools across the county are
going up next school year as food suppliers and districts try to
cope with the onslaught of less available commodities and high gas
prices.
Food prices in many county school districts have remained dormant
for several years, but because of the higher cost of food materials,
food service departments in schools, which are mostly
self-supporting, have to find ways to keep food on the table.
"We’re no different than any other district because
commodities are limited and we have to have an increase to keep
going," said Muskego-Norway School District business
administrator George Haynes. "Everything’s going up, and even
places like General Mills are feeling it now."
Besides the massive increase in fuel costs the past three years,
the price of corn, wheat, milk and other commodities are
skyrocketing. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Web
site, the price of wheat has gone from $2.65 per bushel in 2004 to
$5.30 in 2007, and corn went from $2.15 to $3.90.
