District 59 signs new food contract with OrganicLife

Elk Grove Township Elementary District 59 students will be getting their lunches from a new food provider starting this summer.

OrganicLife was the low bidder for the district's food service management contract, inking a $1.9 million deal to provide hot lunches and cold breakfasts for the 2016-2017 school year.

Sodexo had been the district's food vendor since 2014, and until classes concluded this week. The company decided to end its contract since it said it was on target to lose $1 million over two years.

OrganicLife, based in Chicago, prepares 30 million meals a year for 1,000 accounts across Illinois, including hotels, restaurants and 800 schools, CEO/Founder Jonas Falk told school board members last month.

The board agreed to raise the price of student lunches by 25 cents, to $2.75, while the price for breakfasts will remain $1.30. Reduced price lunches are 40 cents and breakfasts are 30 cents, in accordance with federal guidelines.