Everytable Partners with Compton Unified: Fresh Scratch-Cooked Meals for 31 Schools

Compton Chamber Admin
1 day ago
3 min read

A District-Wide Effort

CUSD awarded Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 25-002 to Everytable PBC under the category “Meals Ready to Eat (Student Nutrition Department).” This formal award made Everytable the official meal partner for Compton’s public schools.

The collaboration spans 31 schools across the district—serving elementary, middle, and high school students with freshly prepared meals that meet USDA School Nutrition Standards. This is the first time in the district’s history that an outside provider has been brought in to supply full, scratch-cooked meals for daily student consumption.

More Than a Vendor Partnership

In recent years, Everytable has been expanding its services to higher education campuses, including Cal State Los Angeles and Compton College.

While Compton Unified’s in-house nutrition team remains active. Everytable’s program is designed to supplement and strengthen the district’s food offerings—not replace them. Meals are crafted in Everytable’s commissary kitchen and delivered fresh to schools daily.

Menu options include favorites such as Chicken Alfredo, Pollo Asado, Chicken Teriyaki, and Chicken Parmesan Ciabatta—recipes adapted from Everytable’s retail menu and modified to meet federal nutrition requirements.

Everytable CEO Sam Polk described the program as an opportunity to “provide nourishing, affordable meals to the next generation,” while also highlighting the company’s broader goal of closing the nutrition gap in underserved communities.

Staff Meals and Online Ordering

Teachers, administrators, and staff members are also included through Everytable at School, an online ordering system that allows employees to purchase discounted lunches delivered directly to their school sites. This aligns with the district’s broader wellness goals, promoting balanced eating among faculty and staff as well.

Taste Tests and Feedback

Over the summer, CUSD hosted several student taste-testing events, including one at Compton High School, where students sampled new menu items and provided feedback on flavors, textures, and portion sizes.

District officials reported a positive response: students praised the freshness and flavor, while parents welcomed the district’s commitment to healthier food choices. The feedback sessions will continue during the 2025–26 school year to refine menu items.

Beyond Lunch: Community Impact

Later this year, Everytable will also partner with the City of Compton’s Meals on Wheels program, serving local seniors and other vulnerable residents.

Everytable operates on a sliding-scale pricing model, allowing meals in underserved areas to be affordable while generating revenue in higher-income areas to subsidize costs. This approach reflects the company’s social enterprise mission: to ensure nutritious food is accessible to everyone.

Looking Ahead

While the specific contract term, renewal options, and pricing remain undisclosed, the program is currently ongoing for the 2025–26 school year. The collaboration is being closely watched as a potential model for healthy, equitable school food programs across California and beyond.

Why It Matters

Compton Unified’s partnership with Everytable illustrates a broader movement in public education toward healthier, more equitable school meals. For decades, cafeteria food in lower-income districts has struggled with underfunding and limited innovation. By partnering with a socially conscious food brand that emphasizes quality and flavor, CUSD is setting a precedent for nutritious, accessible meals in public schools.