www illinoisfarmtoschool org www sevengenerationsahead or g Connect

www. illinoisfarmtoschool. org www. sevengenerationsahead. or g

Connect Local to Standard Procurement

Overview • Where to Find Local • Informal Buying: • Micro Purchases + 3 Bids and a Buy • Direct Relationships • Garden Produce • DOD • Buying and Bidding Together • Bid Local

Where do you look? • • Direct Sales on the Farmer’s Markets Produce Auctions Producer Co-ops and Food Hubs Produce Distributors CSA Memberships DOD Fruit and Vegetable Program Broadline Distributors w/ local programs • School Farms and Gardens

How do you buy?

Informal Bids – 3 bids and a buy Informal methods of purchasing are perfect for buying local • Requesting equal bids from at least three farms for the same items / same volumes is a good way for smaller to midsized sites to buy locally. • Sites can look for area farms online and by contacting Farmers Market managers for a list of producers. • Contact with your site info and bid info • Updated 2019: purchases must not exceed $250, 000 limited to specifics listed on this slide. *The Federal simplified acquisition threshold (formerly known as the Federal small purchase threshold) is $250, 000. However, there are other factors that may dictate a lower more restrictive threshold such as local school policy, specific details to the actual School Food Authority (SFA) purchasing, current contracts, and if purchasing with a grant. The SFA must refer to local procurement policies and procedures and/or the terms of the purchasing and/or the terms of any applicable grant prior to making a purchase. If an Illinois SFA has any specific questions or concerns about the purchasing for their Child Nutrition Program(s) please have them contact Christina Smith, csmith@isbe. net.

Micro Purchases Micro purchases are perfect for a one-time purchase of local food for a special event celebration or tasting. UPDATED 2019: Purchase dollar amount does not exceed $10, 000

Direct Relationships Building direct relationships with growers takes work but the benefits can be extraordinary. Be sure to check and confirm farm safety by utilizing an online tool.

Remember! Garden food is local food. • Gardens have intrinsic value for children and adults • Other benefits: • • • Increase fruit and vegetable consumption Teach children about healthy eating habits Connect them to their natural environment Develop physical and social skills Reinforce educational concepts

DOD Purchases F 2 SDo. DFresh. pdf

Buying Together Creating a buying group with varying size sites can give you the ability to buy and share the bounty. Very small sites cannot meet minimums and do not have the ability to utilize larger quantities. When sites work together to buy local their buying capabilities are improved and sourcing local is more efficient. Frac. org/buying_groups. pdf

Local Purchasing Language Larger institutions can add local language, or geographic preference, to their formal bids. isbe. net/Nutrition-and. Wellness-Contract. Information. aspx

Diane Chapeta | IL Farm to School Program Manager diane@sevengenerationsahead. org | IL Farm to School Network Coordinator Mary Hosier I IL Farm to School Network Coordinator xxx@sevengenerationsahead. org mary@sevengenerationsahead. org General Inquiries: farmtoschool@sevengenerationsahead. org 708. 660. 9909 www. sevengenerationsahead. org www. illinoisfarmtoschool. org

Local Procurement

About Vermilion • Based in Urbana, Morton, and Danville • Founded in 1967, still family-owned • Full Service Produce Distributor, with Related Bakehouse, Spice Company, and Freight Farm

About Get Fresh • Based in Bartlett and Indianapolis • 24/7/365 business • Distribute and process fruits and vegetables

Great Apple Crunch • Easiest way to accomplish Local with marketing support from the Illinois Farm to School Network • Over 80, 000# of Illinois Apples crunched last week

Most Relevant Local Produce 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Whole Apples and Apple Slices Cucumbers Tomatoes Bell Peppers Squash Celery Cabbage Corn Radishes, Parsnips, Carrots, Beets Green Beans Potatoes (Wisconsin) Local frozen commodities (Corn, Beans)

When Items Are Local

More Complex/Costly 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Greenhouse-grown lettuce Eggs Dairy Off-season indoor Tomatoes Local meats

How Do You Maximize Local Using Commodities • Your DOD provider can set you up with a DOD and non-DOD account; drive Local through both platforms • This is helpful, because when local is readily available, we can steer through commodities, but if not, or there is a timing issue, we can still sell the local items

Visibility • Has a parent or administrator ever asked you how you were incorporating Local into what you serve?

All Participating Districts

Evanston/Skokie District 65

Harvest of the Month

Local Procurement