Between 70 cents and seven euros depending on income level : the price of lunch in the canteens of Lyon will not change, assures the elected official in charge of food, the ecologist Gautier Chapuis. “We are not going to allow ourselves to increase the bill for families, it is also an issue of social justice. The decision was made not to increase the menus for 2022-2023.”
>> Back to school 2022: more expensive canteens, municipalities organize and appeal to the State
The city of Lyon will therefore not increase the price of its canteens, despite inflation. The municipality has signed a charter with the Elior group, more demanding on organic and local products.
“This organic and local agriculture costs 4 million euros, but it’s a choice we made. From the start of the school year in September, 50% of the products will be organic, with a target of 50% local production. ‘here four years.”
Gautier Chapuis, elected ecologist of Lyonat franceinfo
A more expensive school catering market, but more ambitious in nutritional and environmental terms. The city of Lyon had already talked about its canteens during the controversy over the meatless menu during the Covid-19 pandemic.
From the start of the school year, the fruits and vegetables on the plates of Lyon schoolchildren will therefore come from local producers. For example, zucchini, tomatoes and pears are grown by Henry Chambre, an organic market gardener: he is delighted to provide non-calibrated production for large circuits.
“The large structures will calibrate their tomatoes, their apples and pears to the nearest grammage, with large equipment. We cannot do it.”
Henry Chambre, organic market gardenerat franceinfo
“They will accept that there is a centimeter less or a centimeter more. And for us, that allows us to have a much wider range to supply”, he adds. 26,000 meals are served every day in Lyon, with a meat-free and fish-free menu now offered every day. 15% of families have chosen this completely vegetarian alternative so far.