Education
Nourishing Young Minds with Fresh Possibilities
At GoFresh, we believe that providing quality nutrition to students is about more than just delivering food—it's about creating opportunities for learning, growth, and healthy habits that last a lifetime. For over 85 years, we've been partnering with educational institutions across Oklahoma, Arkansas, Southwest Missouri, and Southeast Kansas to bring the freshest products directly to school cafeterias and nutrition programs.
Understanding the Unique Needs of Schools
We recognize the complex challenges facing school nutrition programs today. Schools must meet strict nutritional guidelines while staying within tight budget constraints, all while introducing students to new foods and expanding their palates. Managing complex logistics with limited staff and resources adds another layer of difficulty, especially when complying with farm-to-school initiatives and grant programs while providing consistent quality despite seasonal variations.
Our Specialized Programs for Educational Institutions
Apple of the Month Program
We believe everyone should experience the diverse world of apples beyond the standard varieties. Our Apple of the Month program introduces students to more exotic apple varieties without the exotic price, helping expand young palates and make healthy eating an adventure.
Below is an example of the variety rotation:
Red D
Gala
Braeburn
Cameo
Fuji
Jonagold
Pink Lady
Lady Alice
Jazz
Honey crisp
Gold D Or Granny Smith
Farm to School Partnership
For districts participating in Farm to School initiatives, we remove the administrative burden by working directly with individual farms and your district. Our team handles invoicing and automatically ships Farm to School items directly to your sites alongside your regular school lunch program products, streamlining the entire process so you can focus on what matters most—feeding students.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFV)
Many children with limited access to diverse produce never experience the wide variety of fruits and vegetables available. For schools accepted into this grant program, we provide specialty items that kids might not otherwise have the opportunity to sample, making healthy eating an adventure rather than a chore. We add value by introducing fruits and vegetables that expand young minds and taste buds.
Expanded Educational Opportunities
Through our expanded partnerships with grower-shippers, we now offer additional school opportunities including seasonal produce education programs, farm connection initiatives, specialty variety introductions, and custom educational programming. These partnerships allow us to create meaningful connections between students and the source of their food.
Lloyd's Cuts for Education
Our in-house processing facility creates fresh-cut produce specifically sized and prepared for school nutrition programs. This value-added service reduces labor costs in school kitchens while eliminating waste and improving portion control. We ensure food safety with consistent processing standards, saving preparation time while maintaining nutritional quality. Most importantly, we provide stable costs that help maximize your budget, giving you predictable expenses throughout the school year.
Technology Solutions for School Nutrition
Our specialized technology platforms help education clients streamline operations and reduce administrative burden. These integrated solutions work together to make managing your nutrition program more efficient and effective.
Peppers App: Our innovative all-in-one platform for communication, ordering, and identifying new items
Automated Order Reminders: Prevent missed orders through the Peppers app
Customized Reporting: Track spending, identify trends, and optimize your budget
Flexible Delivery Scheduling: We work around your school hours and needs
Key Stop Options: Prevent last-minute inventory emergencies with strategic deliveries
Digital Billing: Paperless options through the Peppers app for faster processing
Nutrition Education Support
Beyond just supplying food, GoFresh engages in special programming that enables children to learn about and try a vast variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. We make eating healthy fun by providing specialty items at their seasonal peak and offering product consulting to serve produce creatively. Our support extends to educational initiatives about nutrition and agriculture, arranging farm visits and producer connections where possible, and providing educational materials about seasonal availability and nutrition.
Comprehensive Product Solutions for Schools
Fresh Produce
We work with trusted grower-shippers to ensure consistent quality and variety throughout the school year, bringing you the freshest options available.
Value-Added Services
These comprehensive services are designed to reduce your workload while maintaining the highest quality standards, allowing your staff to focus on serving students.
Why Schools Choose GoFresh
Schools across our region choose GoFresh because we provide consistent quality with reliable, fresh products that meet or exceed USDA standards. We offer simplified logistics as a one-stop solution for produce, dairy, bread and more, while maintaining budget-friendly options with fair pricing and portion-controlled products. Our comprehensive food safety programs and certifications give you peace of mind, while our dedicated account representatives provide responsive service because they understand school nutrition.
What sets us apart is our educational support through programs that help students learn about healthy eating, combined with technology integration via the Peppers app that streamlines ordering and communication. We provide flexible solutions with adaptable programs that work with your specific needs and schedule, taking a true partnership approach to your success.
Consistent Quality & USDA Compliance
We deliver reliable, fresh products that meet or exceed USDA standards every time.
One-Stop Solution & Simplified Logistics
Source produce, dairy, bread, and specialty items from a single trusted partner.
Budget-Friendly Options & Cost Control
Fair pricing and portion-controlled products help maximize your nutrition budget.
Food Safety Expertise & Peace of Mind
Comprehensive food safety programs and certifications protect students and staff.
Educational Support & Partnership Approach
We actively support nutrition education while adapting to your specific needs and schedule.
Partnership Approach
We understand that every school district has unique needs, challenges, and goals. That's why we take a collaborative approach that goes far beyond traditional vendor relationships. Our team becomes an extension of your nutrition program, working alongside your staff to create solutions that fit your specific situation.
Nutrition Program Leadership
We collaborate closely with nutrition directors and kitchen managers to develop customized solutions that align with your program's goals, budget constraints, and operational needs. Our team provides menu planning support, product training, and helps navigate compliance requirements while ensuring day-to-day kitchen operations run smoothly.
Administrative Partnership
We streamline processes by working directly with your business office and administrative staff. Our technology solutions integrate with your existing systems, our billing processes are designed for school district requirements, and we provide the documentation and reporting you need for budget management and compliance.
Educational Support
Beyond supplying food, we actively support your educational mission by working with teachers and staff to provide materials for nutrition education, coordinate learning experiences, and supply specialty items for classroom activities. Our goal is to help students develop lifelong healthy eating habits while supporting your curriculum objectives.
Ready
for
a
Fresh
New Experience?
Delivering fresh produce is a standard you can rely on, but imagine receiving all your essentials in a single, seamless shipment. For over three generations, GoFresh has been celebrated for farm-fresh quality, and now we’ve expanded our offerings to bring even more vibrant, fresh products to meet your needs!