Sayville Food and Nutrition Service was one of several school district nutrition departments that form the Long Island School Food Service Directors Association (LISFSDA) to share a “Best Practices” Award of $5,000 designated for the purchase of new food service equipment.

The New York State Office of General Services (OGS) and US Department Agriculture presented LISFSDA Cooperative Committee an OGS/USDA Best Practices Award. The award, one of two presented statewide, recognizes the Co-op’s innovative practices regarding purchasing, which includes the processing of USDA commodities.

Created to address the rising operational costs experienced by district’s school lunch programs, the Co-op grew from a small membership of seven in 1989 to its current membership of 36 districts from Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The Co-op’s diversion and processing practices are so successful that it has become a model that other districts around New York State are seeking to emulate.