The beet

Whitsons teams in Pleasant Valley School District, PA and Easton Area School District, PA were recently recognized as Breakfast Champions as part of the Governor’s School Breakfast Challenge in Pennsylvania. The three-month program encouraged increased participation in the Universal Free Breakfast Program. Of the 37 schools in Pennsylvania that finished the challenge, four of the top 10 were schools Whitsons proudly services.

In January 2024, the Pennsylvania Department of Education launched the Governor’s School Breakfast Challenge. Governor Shapiro and his administration have implemented universal free breakfast and are working with schools to increase participation to ensure more students get healthy, nutritious meals to start the day.  

“When students can depend on receiving nutritious meals at school, it relieves them from at least one major stressor in their life, and we know that students perform better, are more attentive, and have fewer behavioral problems when their brains and bodies are well nourished,” said Secretary of Education, Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “The Universal Free Breakfast Program demonstrates the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to ensuring all children start the day with a full belly, and we encourage schools across the Commonwealth to join us for the Governor’s School Breakfast Challenge.”    

The Challenge recognizes schools for increasing breakfast participation while implementing sustainable changes that incorporate more nutritious and local foods in their meal offerings by using promotional strategies, identifying service methods that allowed for greater student access to breakfast, and incorporating hot breakfast items and foods that were locally sourced and lower in sugar. 

Pleasant Valley Elementary School led the way for Whitsons schools, placing third overall in this contest. Pleasant Valley Middle School, Pleasant Valley Intermediate, and Easton Area Middle School also finished in the top 10. Whitsons team members and district representatives from Pleasant Valley School District were invited to attend the Governor’s School Breakfast Champions Breakfast at his residence. Whitsons General Manager Eric Ventriglia,  Chef Manager Kyle Earling and his daughter Arianna joined Dr. James Konrad, Superintendent in making the trip to the capital in Harrisburg, PA.

The event featured five sample dishes from the Champion schools’ breakfast menus. Governor Shapiro also gave a speech about meeting greater educational needs in the state and the importance of moving towards free lunch for all. After the meal, attendees participated in a round table discussion with Secretary Mumin.

“The discussion included our methods and shortfalls in our pursuit of higher breakfast Average Daily Participation (ADP),” said Eric Ventriglia.  “Dr. Konrad and I also had a fruitful conversation with Vonda Ramp, State Director for Child Nutrition Programs. We discussed with her the abilities of managed districts vs. self-operated and Whitson’s own impact on service here at Pleasant Valley.”

This is Whitsons’ first year as the school meal provider for Pleasant Valley School District, as well as the district’s first year transitioning from a self-operated food service system to working with a food service management company.
  “Eric and his team have really improved the quality the students receive,” said Cory Goldfarb, District Manager.  “Congratulations to the entire team on being recognized for their hard work.”