New Bedford’s New $14.7 Million Central Kitchens Opens for Schools

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — The New Bedford Public Schools’ new Central Kitchen officially opened today, making it easier for school children across the city to get a hot, nutritious meal each school day.

After four years of planning, the Culinary and Nutrition Center – also known as the Central Kitchen – moves food prep service for the numerous elementary schools in the city that don’t have their own kitchens from the administration building on County Street to a modern facility located at 453 North Street.

The official ribbon cutting took place this morning, with members of the New Bedford School Committee, city and school officials, and other guests in attendance.

What This Means for Students

“The new Central Kitchen will allow us to deliver better meals to students more efficiently and consistently across the district,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said. “A strong foundation in nutrition is essential for students to succeed in the classroom.”

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“This is a day of celebration for all city schools, all students, and the hard-working food services staff who finally have the facility they deserve,” Superintendent Andrew O’Leary said. “This facility shows what’s possible when we invest the maximum in our greatest asset, New Bedford’s young people.”

Why a Central Kitchen Was Needed

Many of the schools around the city are over a century old and lacked any kind of kitchen on the premises, so school lunches were prepared at the administration building in the old New Bedford High School building on County Street and shipped out to the schools.

READ MORE: New Bedford Schools to Get New Central Kitchen

In a 2022 appearance on WBSM, Mitchell said the administration building “isn’t really set up for a big distribution service.” O’Leary echoed those sentiments in a recent appearance on Townsquare Sunday, calling the County Street building “totally inadequate” for food preparation and distribution.

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According to New Bedford Public Schools, “Throughout the district, amongst all schools this year, New Bedford Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services provided 1,262,759 breakfast meals, 1,911,443 lunches, 198,322 snacks, 65,507 afterschool meals, 519,776 produce (part of the USDA's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program), and 99,301 summer meals served last summer.”

Funding Breakdown for the $14.7 Million Central Kitchen

The project cost a total of $14.7 million, with $9.2 million coming in federal funds from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). The U.S. Department of Agriculture and a municipal bond covered the rest of the cost. The project was overseen by the New Bedford Public Schools’ Capital and Construction Standing Committee, chaired by Bruce Oliveira.

Features of the New Central Kitchen

• 17,000 square feet of space
  1,218 square foot refrigerated food prep area, where foods can be prepackaged for reheating or prepared in single-serve packaging
• Commercial 1,170 square foot walk-in cooler with space for 44 pallets of food supplies
• Commercial 1,751 square foot walk-in freezer with space for 68 pallets of frozen goods
• Blast cooler to quickly lower food temperature
• Blast freezer to quick-freeze prepared foods.
• Storage area with space for 65 pallets of dry goods
• Commercial cook kitchen featuring 40-gallon tilting skillets, 80-gallon kettle, and state of-the-art high-efficiency combination ovens
• Loading dock for commercial and NBPS Food Services transport vehicles
• Off-street parking for visitor and staff parking
• “Whaler Café,” a retail café scheduled to open during the 2025-2026 school year