AM850.com

High food prices are effecting grocery shoppers and now Alachua County School lunches. Alla cart items such as individual pizzas and extra entrees have went up 25 to 50 cents in the last few months. Director of Food and Nutrition Services for the county, Maria Eunice says the rise in prices is effecting all areas of the lunch room. Eunice says not only is the county looking at alla cart prices but labor costs and making sure the staff is as efficient as possible. Now Eunice says employees are having to pay more attention to what fruits are in season and limit the amount of days they are offered. Eunice also says milk prices are difficult to deal with especially since milk cannot be pulled from the lunch menu since it has to be offered. Eunice says instead the county might not offer flavored milks to try and save money. She adds, free and reduced lunches will never be affected by the rise in food prices. The next step according to Eunice is to look over the budget and make a new plan for the next school year. Eunice says the county is considering raising meal prices for next year.