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K-12 Child Nutrition

K-12 Schools

Spec-Ready. CN-Labeled. Trusted.

A top-3 commodity beef processor for America’s schools. We make K-12-compliant proteins and handhelds that are CN-labeled, spec-ready, and built for the realities of school nutrition programs, feeding millions of students every week.

Don Lee Farms flame-grilled burger for K-12 school meal programs

Trusted in K-12, By the Numbers

Top3
Commodity Beef Processor for K-12 Schools
2023
Urban School Food Alliance Award
100+
Ingredients Banned
1982
Family-Owned Since

Trusted by Districts Nationwide

Serving hundreds of districts across the country, including:

Urban School Food Alliance Los Angeles Unified School District San Diego Unified School District New York City Department of Education Houston Independent School District Dallas Independent School District The School District of Palm Beach County Austin Independent School District
Our Craft

Charbroiled. Slow-cooked. Family-made.

Danny, Mike and Brandon, the third generation Grandfather Larry Grandfather Larry, standing Donald and Larry
Three Generations

Family made.
Quality first.
Always.

Three generations of making food at scale. Larry pioneered frozen food after World War II. His son Donald founded Don Lee Farms in 1982 and built it from the factory floor up, alongside the team that powers it. The mission hasn’t changed: delicious, convenient food at a price that works for American families, and a steady push toward healthier, simpler choices.

1940s · Larry's

Larry founded what would become Larry's after World War II, supplying local firefighters, military bases, markets, and schools with sandwiches and convenient meals.

Early 1970s · Flash-Frozen Innovation

Larry pioneered the flash-frozen, fully cooked burger, among the first to make ready-to-eat proteins at scale. He was also one of the first to use plant-based proteins commercially. His son Donald joined and learned the business from the production floor up.

The original Larry's logo
The original Larry's
Inside the Larry's plant
Inside the Larry's plant
1982 · Don Lee Farms Founded

Donald started Don Lee Farms in a rented building in Marina del Rey, hand-dipping corn dogs for local school districts and later Price Club (now Costco), building the company one product at a time.

Donald at an early press check
Donald at an early press check
1984 · Inglewood HQ

Opened the first company-owned campus in Inglewood, production, warehouse, and headquarters under one roof.

The Don Lee Farms plant in the 1980s and 1990s
The plant, '80s–'90s
Early 2000s · Third Generation Joins

Donald's sons Michael, Danny, and Brandon joined the company, expanding into new categories. Together they helped grow Don Lee Farms into a national brand and trusted private-label partner.

The Don Lee Farms family across generations
Danny, Brandon, Donald,
Mike & Larry
2012 · Texas Expansion

Opened the Mansfield, Texas campus and earned USDA Organic certification, nationwide reach with the same quality standards.

Don Lee Farms campus in Mansfield, Texas
Our Mansfield, Texas campus
2019 · Private-Label Leadership

Won Albertsons Companies' New Supplier of the Year after launching dozens of items in months, cementing our role as a leading private-label partner.

Early 2020s · Community Impact

Recognized with a Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition and LA Business Journal's Philanthropist of the Year, and helped establish the UCLA Goodman–Luskin Microbiome Center. Millions of meals donated through annual events with the LA Rams, UCLA, the City of Inglewood, and the LA Regional Food Bank.

An early Don Lee Farms turkey giveaway
Our community,
giving back at home
Ribbon-cutting at the Donald Goodman Family Foundation Volunteer Center at the LA Regional Food Bank
The Donald Goodman Family
Foundation Volunteer Center
2023 · Urban School Food Alliance Award

Recognized for helping raise the bar on school meals, a top-3 commodity beef processor for America's schools, feeding millions of students every week.

Today · Three Generations Strong

Company-owned campuses coast to coast, a club-store favorite across multiple categories, and still family-owned, helping shape the future of food.

The Don Lee Farms team
The Don Lee Farms team
Ways To Serve

From KitchenTo Cafeteria

Cafeteria-ready in minutes. A few favorite ways to put Don Lee Farms on the tray.

Breaded beef parm sandwich with marinara and melted cheese on a toasted bun
01 · Sauce & Melt

Breaded Beef Parm Sandwich

A crispy breaded beef patty, marinara, and melted cheese on a toasted bun. An Italian-style favorite for the lunch line.

View Recipe →
Taco enchiladas baked and sauced
02 · Bake & Serve

Taco Enchiladas

Our Tacos smothered in red sauce and melty cheese, then baked, a hearty, crowd-feeding favorite.

View Recipe →
Pizza burgers topped pizza-style
03 · Cafeteria Favorite

Pizza Burgers

Two charbroiled patties stacked pizza-style with pepperoni, marinara and melted cheese, the burger kids ask for by name.

View Recipe →
Texas toast patty melt on oven-toasted bread
04 · Oven-Toasted

Texas Toast Patty Melt

Flame-grilled patties, melted cheese, oven-toasted Texas toast, a warm, hearty lunch line classic.

View Recipe →
Our Brands

The FamilyOf Brands

Don Lee Farms® is the brand found at club and retail. Find our other brands, including CrispUps®, at a store near you.

CrispUps®

Premium fillings. Handmade. Crispy in minutes. Loaded handhelds made for the air fryer.

Crunch In Minutes

The Smashed Griller

Double-stacked, craft-style smashed patties with crispy edges, diner energy from the freezer aisle.

Smashed To Order

The Backyard Griller

Flame-grilled classics built around the everyday cookout, built for your menu.

Straight Off The Grill

Foldovers

Slow-cooked proteins, folded by hand into warm bread, real, visible protein and melty goodness.

Folded By Hand

Built for School Nutrition

Award-WinningHonored with the 2023 Urban School Food Alliance Award for raising the bar on school meals.
Top-3 Commodity Beef ProcessorOne of the largest commodity beef processors for U.S. schools, feeding millions of students every week.
CN-Labeled & Spec-ReadyCrediting documentation and K-12-compliant formats built for your menu cycles.
Better-for-Kids ProteinsLow sodium and whole-grain options, chicken raised without antibiotics, and plant-based choices.
Request K-12 School Catalog
Close-up of a fresh, ripe tomato Close-up of fresh green chili peppers Close-up of freshly diced onion Close-up of fresh cilantro
Our Ingredients

It starts with
what goes in it.

Great food begins with simpler, recognizable ingredients, the kind you'd find in your own kitchen. And a growing list of over 100 we refuse to use.

Refers to Don Lee Farms branded products. Always check the package for each product's ingredients.

Get In Touch

Let’s Talk K-12

Menu planning, CN labels, samples, or a catalog request? Send us a note and our team will get back to you.