Jason and Danielle hit the road to Rancho Cordova for the California Farm to School Summit at Soil Born Farms, and they brought the mic along for the ride.

From a hotel room interview to a garden trail moment with the Governor, this episode captures the energy of a summit that drew attendees from 35 states. Jason and Danielle share their behind-the-scenes takeaways, including the CalSNA Farm to School booth and its interactive map connecting farmers, districts, educators, and aggregators across California. Jason also shares his conversation with First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom about the kitchen infrastructure schools need to make scratch cooking and farm to school last.

In this episode:

• Guest Interview: Nicole Loza, K-12 Account Manager for California with Xceed and Chapter 10 Industry Chair, talks about falling in love with K-12, her first (chaotic) day on the serving line, what makes a strong district and vendor partnership, and why she believes K-12 can be a bridge for California farmers and manufacturers.
• PP&L Spotlight: The School Nutrition Association and 12 national partners are urging USDA to release Section 32 funds as emergency relief for school meal programs. Learn why it matters, what the numbers show, and three quick ways you can take action.
• Two-Minute Tip: “Two and four, then no more.” Danielle and Jason break down the two-stage cooling rule and how to beat the clock safely in your kitchen.
• Summit Recap: Advice for small districts ready to start the farm to school road.

Plus, shout-outs for National Farm to School Month and National School Lunch Week, and a reminder to saddle up for the CalSNA Annual Conference in Long Beach, November 11 to 14. Come find us and say hi!

Every tray, every local apple, it all adds up. Happy Farm to School Month!

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First in Line: Meet the Voices Behind the Lunch Line Lowdown

Short description Lunch Line Lowdown kicks off with the hosts in the hot seat. Jason Beach and Danielle Johnson interview each other about how they found their way into child nutrition, plus a PP&L Spotlight on Section 32 funding and a penny-sized freezer safety tip.

Episode summary Every school day, before the first bell rings, a team is already in the kitchen feeding kids. Lunch Line Lowdown is here to tell their stories, and for our very first episode, we're starting with us.

Jason and Danielle turn the questions on each other: how they found their way into child nutrition, what a "typical" day really looks like, the hardest parts of the job that nobody sees, and the biggest misconceptions about school meals. They talk leadership and staffing, what to do when you're the leader and don't have the answer, where school nutrition needs to change in the next five years, and the mentors who helped them along the way. Then it's the first-ever Lunch Line Lightning Round. Pizza or tacos? Combi oven or tilt skillet? Hairnet or ball cap? You'll have to listen.

PP&L Spotlight: Section 32 and Child Nutrition Ask most directors what Section 32 is and you'll get a blank stare, yet it helps pay for meals every day. Danielle explains where this 1935 funding stream comes from, how it ties to your monthly reimbursements, and how it kept school meals funded during the 43-day federal shutdown in fall 2025. With federal funding currently running through December 11, the takeaway: don't panic, but do plan.

Two-Minute Tip: The Penny Freezer Test A sports bottle, some water, and a penny can tell you whether your freezer lost temperature while you were away. Jason walks through the setup, just in time to drop one in every freezer before Thanksgiving break.

Resources mentioned

• SNA: 2025 Federal Government Shutdown FAQs: https://schoolnutrition.org/resource/2025-federal-government-shutdown-faqs/
• CRS: Farm and Food Support Under USDA's Section 32 Program: https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RS20235.html

Your hosts Jason Beach is Director of Café Services at Oakdale Joint Unified School District, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, and the 2026 CalSNA Director Mentor of the Year. Danielle Johnson is a California school nutrition director, speaker, and trainer with more than 20 years in child nutrition programs.

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Produced by Sarah Beach, on the mixer.

Real talk from the people who feed our kids.

Every school day, millions of students walk through the lunch line, and behind every tray is a team working hard to make it happen. Lunch Line Lowdown is a monthly podcast that pulls back the curtain on school nutrition, featuring candid conversations with the food service directors and child nutrition leaders shaping how kids eat at school.

Hosted by Jason Beach, Director of Café Services at Oakdale Joint Unified School District, and Danielle Johnson, a California school nutrition director, speaker, and trainer with more than 20 years in child nutrition, the show brings together decades of experience from the kitchen, the district office, and the statehouse.

Each episode includes:

• Guest conversations with leaders sharing what's working, what's hard, and what's next in school meals
• PP&L Spotlight, a quick breakdown of the public policy and legislation affecting child nutrition programs
• Two-Minute Tip, one practical idea you can bring back to your kitchen, team, or program right away

Whether you run a district program, work the serving line, or just care about what kids eat, pull up a tray.

New episodes monthly.