In a recent government meeting, officials from the Denver Public Schools (DPS) highlighted significant advancements in their school food programs, emphasizing the need for improved infrastructure to support a shift towards more scratch cooking and locally sourced ingredients. The meeting marked the kickoff of the Youth Food Policy Council's first unboxed meeting of the school year, where students will engage in discussions about food systems and contribute to shaping future school food policies.

DPS has been actively working to enhance kitchen standards, a process initiated following the Cummings report in 2019. The district now conducts annual inventories of kitchen equipment and has established a collaborative repair and response process with building services to address equipment issues effectively. Recent efforts include a formal bidding process that resulted in the acquisition of 19 new dishwashers for the district.

As part of ongoing improvements, DPS is updating its learning environment guidelines for kitchens, which now include a significant transition from gas to electric cooking equipment. This change encompasses various appliances, including tilt skillets, combi ovens, convection ovens, and steamers, reflecting a commitment to modernizing school kitchens and enhancing the overall quality of food served to students. The district aims to continue fostering creativity and innovation in school food programs while ensuring that infrastructure meets the evolving needs of staff and students alike.