Welcome to Pajaro Valley Unified Food & Nutrition Services

PVUSD student meals served daily - Free meals for all children (age 1-18) pick up from any site listed below

PVUSD COVID19 Webpage for families

Need Food? Necesita Comida? (Second Harvest of Santa Cruz County)

Need Food? Necesita Comida? (Food Bank Monterey County)

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Free & Reduced Meal Applications - Most PVUSD schools receive breakfast and lunch for free without a meal application.  Only the following schools need to fill out meal applications :

Mar Vista Elementary
Rio Del Mar Elementary
Valencia Elementary
Aptos Junior High
Aptos High 

School list of Community Eligibility for automatic free meals 2020-21

Public Release: Free & Reduced Priced Meals 2020-21

Public Charge Rule: Letter from Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Online applications:
You may apply online through SchoolCafe.com. Please select the following link to register and complete your Free and Reduced meal application.

Meal Application Hotline

Application questions or need an in-person appointment?  Call us at 831-786-2327

Food & Nutrition Services Office

General questions? Call us at 831-786-2325

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Meal Charge Policy

Dear Families,
All students are offered a breakfast and/or lunch every day at school because they need to be nourished in order to be happy, healthy and ready to learn.

As a courtesy, the following procedures are in place to support families and students:

• If you feel your family qualifies for free/reduced meals, Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) will make meal applications available before the school year begins and all school year in the FNS Office. Meal applications can also be filled out online at: www.schoolcafe.com.
• Households that have not qualified for free meals can create a student cafeteria account to make payments easier. Accounts can be created in person with cash or check at the school cafeteria or at the FNS Office on 294 Green Valley Road in Watsonville. Accounts can also be made online at www.schoolcafe.com where parents can manage balances, set up automatic alerts, and add money.
• When a student’s cafeteria account balance reaches a negative balance, the FNS Office will notify the household by phone call. Notification will occur daily until the account balance is no longer in the negative. Further notification may include email or a letter to the home. School offices may also follow up on unpaid meal charges.
• Students will not be able to charge a la carte snacks (sold at secondary sites) or a second breakfast/lunch.
• Payment Plans – Families with special circumstances may contact the Food & Nutrition Department to establish a convenient repayment plan.
• Adults are not allowed to charge meal debt. Adults/staff may pay directly to the cafeteria at the school or create an account at www.schoolcafe.com to prepay for meals.

Schools that can apply for free/reduced meals:

Mar Vista, Rio Del Mar, Valencia, Aptos Jr, & Aptos High. Students qualifying for free/reduced meals will receive meals at no cost.

All remaining PVUSD schools are Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) sites and meals are provided at no cost to all students enrolled.

If you have any questions, please contact the Food & Nutrition Services Department at 831-786-2325 or come to our office at 294 Green Valley Road, Watsonville, CA 95076.

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Benefits of Qualifying for Free & Reduced Meals  

When qualified, your student will receive free or reduced priced breakfast and lunch at school

Discounted Services for Internet and PG&E

Reduced or Waived Fees for Testing and College Applications

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Apply for Other Benefits

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Food Allergies and Meal Accomodations

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Good nutrition and learning go hand in hand!

The Food & Nutrition Services Department is made up of a team of nutrition professionals that are dedicated to students' health, well being, and their ability to learn. We support learning by promoting healthy habits for lifelong nutrition and fitness practices.

Meals, foods, and beverages sold or served at schools meet state and federal requirements which are based on the USDA Dietary Guidelines. We provide students with access to a variety of affordable and appealing foo