A kitchen built to deliver freshness and quality
BVSD has worked for over a decade to transition to a scratch-cooked food program built on the cornerstones of freshness and local sourcing. Thanks to the belief of local voters that fresh food matters, the district took a giant step forward in fulfilling that mission with the construction of the new Culinary Center which opened in 2020.
The new facility replaced three regional production kitchens that were located at schools. The regional production kitchens were never designed or sized for producing the amount of scratch-cooked food they were charged with, but had been retrofitted to get by over the years. While these kitchens served well to support the district’s transition to scratch-cooked food, the retro-fitted facilities presented challenges, particularly related to food prep space and storage. The new facility can expand production up to 17,000 daily meals as demand grows.
A place for everything
The new 33,591-square-foot facility will reduce food and operating costs while allowing the district to expand initiatives such as nutrition education and addressing food insecurity. The Culinary Center features a loading dock with a fresh food processing area for deliveries, three food prep areas, abundant storage, a blast chill area, and business spaces. Features such as precise temperature control and separate areas for preparing raw meat and fresh veggies promote food safety. Production of food at one location provides more control over quality and waste.
Partnering with local farmers for the freshest food
The new building was intentionally designed to support the district’s commitment to partnering with local farmers. A ground-level delivery door provides easier access for farmers’ smaller trucks. Ample storage lets BVSD buy in bulk and store local seasonal crops—a benefit to smaller farms that often don’t have storage capacity. A produce washing room boasts equipment designed to clean everything from hardy beets to delicate strawberries—so farmers don’t have to. Sourcing food locally supports farmer families and provides the freshest food to Boulder Valley kids!
