Important Message about a Milk "Carton" Shortage

This message is to inform you that there is a nationwide shortage of the cartons used to contain milk—not milk itself. Therefore, our dairy supplier may not have a consistent supply of carton milk in both chocolate and white milk in order to meet the needs of all of the districts they serve. Our district, alongside our neighbors, will be changing how milk is offered in our schools until this supply issue is resolved.

We want to ensure you that milk is a staple of our school meals and will continue to be available to all CVSD students as best as we are able to provide it. However, we are unsure when the carton shortage will return to normal, and could even continue through the end of this school year. So, we are carefully planning for the long term, while balancing the needs of our students.

What is CVSD’s plan to continue to serve milk?

  • Beginning this Friday, we will only offer white milk to students at all grade levels.
    • If your student has a “Request for Special Dietary Accommodation,” we will provide lactose-free or soy milk.  If you have questions about your student’s milk allergy, don't hesitate to get in touch with nutrition services.
  • Longer term, if our dairy supplier is not able to provide enough white milk served in cartons to meet our students’ needs, then we will provide the following:
    • Provide white milk in cartons to all elementary and middle schools.
    • Provide bulk white and chocolate milk for secondary students, which will be dispensed out of plastic Cambro containers into glasses.

We will update you if there are any necessary changes to our plans. Again, serving milk is an essential part of our students’ nutrition and we will do all we are able to continue to provide this. Should you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact nutrition services.

Denice Kwate, RD

Nutrition Services Supervisor

Central Valley School District

509-558-5414

[email protected]