Looking for more resources to support your local food purchases? Explore the resources below:
Buying Local Food for Food Service in Minnesota — The Minnesota Project — Cooking with seasonal, locally grown foods can be a new experience for many chefs. This guide is intended to be an introduction to the “whys” and “hows” of using local food in a restaurant or other food service establishment.
Michigan Products: A Step by Step Guide — C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems, Michigan State University — Includes useful information and practical tools on incorporating locals foods into your school meals program include sample bid forms and farmer contracts.
Guide for Using Local Foods in Schools — Vermont FEED — A manual designed for school foodservice directors or staff with a step-by-step process for starting local purchasing in your school, success stories about farm-to-cafeteria relationships and seasonal recipes and menu ideas.
Geographic PreferenceGeographic Preference: What it is and how to use it — USDA — Read more about how school food service can use a geographic preference to buy local foods. For example, schools can put out a bid for apples within 100 miles of the school.