Kalispell Schools Opt for Local Beef Suppliers

KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) — Officials with Kalispell Public Schools say the district will save money and serve healthier food by switching to hamburgers made with beef that comes from Kalispell and Polson cattle ranches.

Food Service Director Jenny Montague tells the Daily Inter Lake that the district will save about $750 annually while spending $35,000 in the local economy.

She also says the meat will be healthier because the cattle are raised on ranches and eat a higher percentage of grass than cattle raised at confined animal feeding operations, or CAFOs.

Officials say the change was possible after Lower Valley Meat Processing near Kalispell bought a machine capable of making the correct sized hamburger patties for students.