September 2019
The summer has gone by in the blink of an eye and we're already into the swing of a brand new school year. Those hot summer months weren't spent lounging by the pool though (or at least not completely)! Our team at Interflex, the folks at the USDA, and all of the industry professionals involved in school food service have been cooking up new tools, resources, events, and recipes. We've rounded up everything you need to stir up a sweet season!
Upcoming Events
National School Lunch Week
During the week of October 14-18, schools across the country will celebrate national school lunch week. This year, districts are showcasing their "playlist" of nutritious and tasty menu options.

Be sure to download all of the available resources from the School Nutrition Association at https://schoolnutrition.org and use #schoollunchplaylist to share your celebration on social media.

School Nutrition Industry Conference
The upcoming SNIC will be held January 12-14, 2020 in Indian Wells, California. Everything from Learning Labs to Innovation Solution Sessions are back this year along with new speakers and creative ideas. Learn more at https://schoolnutrition.org

September is Whole Grains Month
The month of September is National Whole Grains Month, but that doesn't mean whole-grains stop there. The recipes and resources available at https://wholegrainscouncil.org can be used year-round both in and out of school!

Looking for More?
USDA FNS has a whole list of suggested events, organized by month, for you to use in your food service celebrations and promotions. September's events include National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Food Safety Education Month, and National Fruits & Veggies - More Matters Month. Download the complete list here: FNS Events List
New At Interflex
Updates to BidAdvantage for Schools
School districts using BidAdvantage for Schools will now have the ability to type in notes on each line item of their bid during the Award Evaluation phase of the bid process. You can use this new notes section to keep track of reasoning for your award decisions, additional information about the product or spec, or to note corrections to the information. All notes will be exportable into your Tabulations and reports as well so you can print them out for your records and use them in reviews and audits.

Prices will now show up to 5 decimal places. If a vendor types in only 2 decimal places, only 2 will show, but they have the ability to enter up to 5.
Connect Data for Manufacturers
Our biggest and best solution ever has finally been released! Connect for AwardedBids and Analytics is a new add-on tool that shows actual products and detailed product information right along with the bid information you're used to seeing.

That means you can not only search by product (e.g. code 12345) and see average prices, award history, and product details, but you'll also be able to fill in those "blanks" on bid specs. Missing packaging or typos on an approved code? No problem - Connect data will fill in those blanks for you! If you're curious to learn more, please contact custserv@interflex.net
Industry News
New Farm to School Resources from USDA
Whether you're just getting started or interested in expanding your operation, USDA's new Farm to School Resources have what you need! The resources include guidance on how to procure locally, online tools, relevant regulations, recipes, safety information, promotional materials, and lesson plans. Get started by visiting https://www.fns.usda.gov/cfs/farm-school-resources

Updated Meal Pattern Charts & Flexibilities for 2019-2020
So much has changed since the HHFKA came out in 2010. Make sure your menu patterns are current with the new chart available at https://fns...MealPatternsSY19-20.pdf

All of the flexibilities, including those for milk, whole-grains, and sodium, are neatly summarized in this chart from the USDA: https://fns...MealFlexSY18-19andSY19-20.pdf

USDA 2019-2020 Reimbursement Rates
The USDA has released reimbursement rates for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the 2019-2020 school year. Details can be found at https://www.federalregister.gov
Trending Now
School Nutrition Trends Report
SNA's 2019 School Nutrition Trends Report sites customizable menu options, such as made to order salads and build your own Acai bowls, as one of the leading trends in schools this year. International dishes, such as ramen bowls, Korean barbeque, and gyros, are also on the rise. Finally, schools reported serving more products with a clean label (meaning no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives) to students.

ANC Presentations
Did you miss SNA's Annual National Conference this past July in St. Louis? Don't miss out on all of the valuable information! All of the presentations from the Education Sessions are available online at https://schoolnutrition.org/meetings/presentations-library/anc/2019/

ICN's iBites Podcast
For other trendy tidbits, check out The ICN's iBites podcast. With over fifteen episodes and counting, there's a little something for every taste.
We Can Help
Did you know that Interflex's data can be used to help manufacturer's with product development? Using our database of award information for the top 700 k-12 operators nationwide, we can help you extract critical information such as:
  • most common packaging (e.g. 72 / 8 oz bottles)
  • most popular flavors (e.g. apple juice vs. grape juice)
  • child nutrition equivalencies - e.g. 1 serving = 1 meat/meat alternate
  • price points (average price by case, pound, or serving)

We can also break information out by state so you know where your products will sell best and how prices might differ across the country! Here's a dive into Waffles as an example:
Welcome New Clients
J.R. Simplot

Shannon's Imperial
Marson Foods

Shearer's
National Food Group

Star Kist