START SOURCING LOCALLY: A project of The Urban School Food Alliance. Learn how to connect with local producers for your school meal programs across the country.
SOURCING LOCALLY
REGIONAL SOURCING MATERIALS FOR K12 FOODSERVICE
A project of the Urban School Food Alliance WWW.URBANSCHOOLFOODALLIANCE.ORG Funded, in part, by USDA
“Procuring local food enhances the nutritional quality of all school meals.” Dr. Katie Wilson, SNS
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CONTENTS
04
06
08
10
Getting Ready to Source Locally: Laying the Foundation for a Thriving Local Sourcing Program
Start Sourcing Locally: How to connect with local sources* for your school meal program
Interactive Locator Map: Click on your region to see local sources* in your area
Who is the Urban School Food Alliance?
SOURCING LOCALLY BY REGION
MID-ATLANTIC
12 13 14 15
SOUTHEAST SOUTHWEST
16 17 18
MIDWEST
MOUNTAIN PLAINS
WESTERN
NORTHEAST
19
LOCAL SOURCING BEGINS WITH BUILDING
Additional Resources on Procurement
LONG-LASTING PARTNERSHIPS
*Local Source is defined on page 6
WHO IS THE URBAN SCHOOL FOOD ALLIANCE?
The Urban School Food Alliance (USFA) is a data-driven nonprofit founded in 2012 by school nutrition professionals in large districts with a mission to change the landscape of child nutrition. For more than a decade, its members have worked to improve food quality, access, and sustainability. Their achievements include helping school districts adopt an antibiotic-free standard for poultry, even before many of the nation’s leading restaurants, and removing 225 million polystyrene trays from landfills every year by implementing compostable plates. USFA has also advanced local sourcing efforts by hosting five webinars in 2025 for producers across the country and delivering basic training on local value-based procurement to over 308 producers and school district professionals; additionally, the USFA website offers accessible buying local resources, enabling member districts to frequently source locally while sharing effective best practices. USFA leverages this expertise and experience to share evidence-informed practices, make high-quality ingredients available and affordable, and advocate for policies that support programs and students.
MEMBER DISTRICTS 19
SCHOOL SITES 6,889
MILLION STUDENTS ENROLLED 3.8
BY THE NUMBERS
MILLION MEALS SERVED ANNUALLY 657
BILLION SPENT ON PROCUREMENT $1.35
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MISSION
Leveraging our collective voice to transform school meals
VISION
To be the leading change agent for advancing high-quality school meals that foster student achievement
JOIN THE CONVERSATION www.UrbanSchoolFoodAlliance.org
Urban School Food Alliance | SOURCING LOCALLY | PAGE 5
GETTING READY TO SOURCE LOCALLY
Laying the Foundation for a Thriving Local Sourcing Program
First, let’s define “Local Source”: For this resource, “Local Source” is defined as any of the following: local producers and local food intermediaries, like food hubs, distributors, and USDA DoD Fresh vendors. Embarking on a local sourcing program is an exciting opportunity to bring fresh, local foods into school meals while strengthening community ties and supporting regional producers. Building a successful program requires collaboration, clear goals, and strategic connections with local sources . By assembling a dedicated team, identifying your primary objectives, and following structured steps to engage producers, you can create meaningful partnerships that benefit students, schools, and the local food system.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN: BUILD YOUR TEAM!
Building a farm to school program is too much for one person to handle alone, so find others in your community who have a vested interest in the idea – school administrators, nonprofit partners, teachers, parents, or others. You may be the expert in your meal program, but others can bring additional knowledge, resources, and connections to the table. Together, you can set goals that set the program up for long-term success.
Reach out! Contact your regional farm to school representative.
NOT SURE WHERE TO START? Define your main objective for collaborating with local sources . Make sure to clearly outline how your local sourcing goals align with the broader aims of your school meal program. Explore the many ways schools work with producers beyond sourcing local products: • Invite local sources to your school to speak with staff or students and taste test some of their products. • Organize a field trip to a local farm. • Host pick-up sites at schools for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs or programs selling boxes of farm-fresh food, making it easier for families to access fresh, local food while supporting local farms. • Co-brand locally sourced products used in meals or sold at school events to increase visibility. Still unsure where to start? If connecting directly with producers is overwhelming or food hubs are not an option in your area, regional (produce) distributors can be a viable outlet to start with. They may provide information about availability and seasonality, as well as a list of local sources they purchase from. Some useful resources to start your local purchasing program: • Farm to School Planning Toolkit • Integrating Local Foods into Child Nutrition Programs • Selling Local Food to Schools: A Resource for Producers • USDA DoD Fresh Program: A Source for Locally Grown Foods • USDA Procuring Local Foods webpage
Let’s start sourcing locally!
Urban School Food Alliance | SOURCING LOCALLY | PAGE 7
START SOURCING LOCALLY
How to connect with local sources for your school meal program
STEPS FOR CONNECTING WITH LOCAL SOURCES:
1. Determine the products you need. When sourcing locally, work with in-season produce and other products available year round (meat, poultry, cheese, etc.). Start with what local sources are offering! 2. Research local, seasonal product availability, as well as local sources . Ask if they send out lists with their local product availability and see what they have to offer throughout the month, season, or year. Build your list of questions* for the local source you want to connect with to ensure alignment with your goals and capacity. 3. Narrow down a list of potential farms and other local sources , then reach out. Connect directly to learn about their products and begin building a relationship. Consider visiting the farm or meeting via video call. 4. Prepare for your first meeting. Use the checklist on the next page to get started. 5. Follow procurement procedures to initiate a micro-purchase or use the information from your meetings with local sources to inform the procurement process. *Example questions to consider for local sources : • Does the local source deliver direct? Do they go through an aggregator? • Do their delivery days and times align with your operation? • What items can be priced to meet both of your needs? • What are their food safety practices? • What weight and count do they offer per case?
PREPARING FOR YOUR FIRST MEETING:
To make your initial meeting with your local source productive and collaborative, come prepared to discuss your needs, budget, and partnership expectations while clearly outlining your district’s requirements. • Explain your production and procurement processes, including the standards you follow, and describe the type of vendor partnership you’re seeking (e.g., consistent supply, specific products). • Know your current budget for various locally available food items and engage in an open conversation with the local source to identify which items align best with both their capabilities and your school meal program’s needs in terms of budget, menu fit, logistics, and more. • Discuss how your district can support the local source as a reliable partner, through consistent ordering and the identification of products of interest to both the local source and the district. • Share your district’s vendor requirements upfront, including common necessities like food safety plans, product insurance, W9 forms, and review any additional district policies. • Be specific and transparent about all steps needed for them to become an approved vendor to avoid delays and build trust from the start.
Let’s find local sources!
Urban School Food Alliance | SOURCING LOCALLY | PAGE 9
INTERACTIVE LOCATOR
MP MOUNTAIN PLAINS
COLORADO KANSAS
MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA
NORTH DAKOTA SOUTH DAKOTA WYOMING
W WESTERN
ALASKA CALIFORNIA HAWAII IDAHO NEVADA OREGON WASHINGTON
GUAM
SW SOUTHWEST
ARIZONA ARKANSAS LOUISIANA
NEW MEXICO OKLAHOMA
TEXAS UTAH
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Click on your region to see localized farm to school resources
MW NORTHEAST
MW MIDWEST
CONNECTICUT MAINE
NEW YORK RHODE ISLAND VERMONT
You can also click on these
INDIANA ILLINOIS IOWA MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA OHIO WISCONSIN
buttons to jump to another region throughout this document.
MASSACHUSETTS NEW HAMPSHIRE US VIRGIN ISLANDS
M-A
M-A MID-ATLANTIC
MW
DELAWARE MARYLAND NEW JERSEY PENNSYLVANIA VIRGINIA WASHINGTON DC WEST VIRGINIA PUERTO RICO
MP
NE
SE
SE SOUTHEAST
SW
ALABAMA FLORIDA GEORGIA KENTUCKY
MISSISSIPPI NORTH CAROLINA SOUTH CAROLINA TENNESSEE
Note: Regions are based on the USDA FNS Regional Offices map. Regions will continue to be updated as required to align with USDA map changes.
W
MID-ATLANTIC Not sure where to find local sources? Start with these:
PENNSYLVANIA
NEW JERSEY
Pennsylvania Farm to School Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association
New Jersey Farm to School New Jersey - Produce Growers
DELAWARE
WEST VIRGINIA
Delaware Farm to School Producer/Buyer List Delaware Farm to School Resources - Department of Agriculture Delaware Grown
Farm Fresh West Virginia West Virginia Farm to School West Virginia Local Foods Finder Map
M-A
MW
MARYLAND
VIRGINIA
Maryland’s Best Maryland Farm to School Maryland Department of Agriculture Certified Local Farm and Fish Program
Buy Fresh Buy Local VA Virginia Farm to School Virginia Grown
MP
PUERTO RICO
WASHINGTON DC
Alliance for Agriculture
NE
DC Farm to School Program FreshFarm Farmers Market Directory
SE
REGIONAL Farmer Focus Future Harvest
NATIONWIDE
National Farm to School Network Institute of Child Nutrition Intertribal Agriculture Council - American Indian Foods
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) USDA Local Food Directory
MD & VA Milk Producers Cooperative Association USDA Mid-Atlantic Region Regional Farm to School inbox
SW
W
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MIDWEST Not sure where to find local sources? Start with these:
MINNESOTA
Minnesota Farm to School Wholesalers - Minnesota Grown
WISCONSIN
Wisconsin Farm to School Wisconsin Local Food Database
MICHIGAN
M-A
Michigan Farm to School Michigan Grown
MW
OHIO
Ohio Farm to School Ohio Local Food Directories
IOWA Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition Practical Farmers of Iowa
MP
INDIANA
NE
ILLINOIS
Indiana Farm to School Indiana Grown for Schools
Illinois Farm to School Illinois Specialty Growers
SE
REGIONAL USDA Midwest Regional Farm to School inbox
NATIONWIDE
National Farm to School Network Institute of Child Nutrition Intertribal Agriculture Council - American Indian Foods
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) USDA Local Food Directory
SW
W
Urban School Food Alliance | SOURCING LOCALLY | PAGE 13
MOUNTAIN PLAINS Not sure where to find local sources? Start with these:
NORTH DAKOTA
MONTANA
SOUTH DAKOTA
Farm to Child Nutrition ND Department of Agriculture Local Foods Directory Map
Abundant Montana Montana Farm to School
Dakota Fresh Food Hub Farm to School South Dakota
South Dakota Specialty Producers Association
M-A
NEBRASKA
Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska Nebraska Farm to School Turtle Island Trade Coalition
WYOMING Rooted in Wyoming Wyoming Farm to School Wyoming Table
MW
MISSOURI
MP
Missouri Farm to School Missouri Grown
COLORADO
KANSAS
NE
Colorado Proud Farm Fresh Directory Nourish Colorado • Colorado Local Food Program Guidebook
Farm to Plate Kansas Local Food Systems Shop Kansas Farms
SE
REGIONAL Ogallala Commons USDA Mountain Plains Regional Farm to School inbox
NATIONWIDE
National Farm to School Network Institute of Child Nutrition Intertribal Agriculture Council - American Indian Foods
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) USDA Local Food Directory
SW
W
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NORTHEAST Not sure where to find local sources? Start with these:
MAINE
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Maine Farm & Sea to School Network Maine Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Association
New Hampshire Farms Network New Hampshire Farm to School
VERMONT
MASSACHUSETTS Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) Massachusetts Farm to School
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Network
M-A
MW
RHODE ISLAND Rhode Island Grown Rhode Island Farm to School Network
MP
NEW YORK
US VIRGIN ISLANDS
CONNECTICUT Connecticut Grown Connecticut Farm to School Collaborative
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) Farm to School - Agriculture and Markets
NE
US Virgin Islands Farm to School US Virgin Islands Good Food
SE
REGIONAL Northeast Dairy Producers Association
NATIONWIDE
National Farm to School Network Institute of Child Nutrition Intertribal Agriculture Council - American Indian Foods
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) USDA Local Food Directory
SW
USDA Northeast Regional Farm to School inbox
W
Urban School Food Alliance | SOURCING LOCALLY | PAGE 15
SOUTHEAST Not sure where to find local sources? Start with these:
KENTUCKY
TENNESSEE
Grow Appalachia Kentucky Farm to School Hub Organic Association of Kentucky
Pick Tennessee Products SNP Program Enrichment
NORTH CAROLINA NC Farm to School Operation Spring Plant
ALABAMA
M-A
Alabama Agriculture
and Industries - Farm to School Sweet Grown Alabama
MW
SOUTH CAROLINA
Certified South Carolina SCF-Organic Farms South Carolina Farm to School
MP
MISSISSIPPI
GEORGIA
Mississippi Association of Cooperatives Mississippi Farm to School Network
FLORIDA
Farm to School - Georgia DOE Georgia Farm to School Alliance Global Growers
NE
Florida Farm to School Florida Organic Growers
SE
REGIONAL USDA Southeast Regional Farm to School inbox
NATIONWIDE
National Farm to School Network Institute of Child Nutrition Intertribal Agriculture Council - American Indian Foods
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) USDA Local Food Directory
SW
W
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SOUTHWEST Not sure where to find local sources? Start with these:
UTAH
NEW MEXICO
Farm to Fork Utah’s Own - Find Local
New Mexico Grown - Approved Supplier List Farm to School - New Mexico Grown
OKLAHOMA OKC Food Hub Oklahoma Farm to School
M-A
ARKANSAS Arkansas Local Food Network Arkansas Farm to School Arkansas Grown
MW
ARIZONA
MP
AZ Farm to School Network Local Food for Schools
LOUISIANA
TEXAS
NE
Louisiana Market Maker Louisiana Farm to School Program
Texas Center for Local Food Texas Department of Agriculture
SE
REGIONAL Ogallala Commons USDA Southwest Regional Farm to School inbox
NATIONWIDE
National Farm to School Network Institute of Child Nutrition Intertribal Agriculture Council - American Indian Foods
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) USDA Local Food Directory
SW
W
Urban School Food Alliance | SOURCING LOCALLY | PAGE 17
WESTERN Not sure where to find local sources? Start with these:
ALASKA
WASHINGTON
Alaska Farm to School Buy Alaska
Farm to Child Nutrition Programs Washington Department of Agriculture Farm to School Washington Farms: Local Farm Finder Washington Grown
OREGON
M-A
Oregon Department of Agriculture Farm to School Oregon Farm to Child Nutrition Programs Oregon Farm to School
IDAHO
Idaho Department of Education Farm to School Idaho Preferred Farm to School Hub
MW
CALIFORNIA
California Farm Directory California Farm to School - CDE California Department of Agriculture Farm to School
NEVADA
MP
Made in Nevada - Grown in Nevada Nevada Farm to School Program
NE
HAWAII
GUAM Farm to Table Guam Guåhan Sustainable Culture (GSC)
Hawaii Food Hub Hui Hawaii Department of Education Farm to School
SE
REGIONAL USDA Western Regional Farm to School inbox
NATIONWIDE
National Farm to School Network Institute of Child Nutrition Intertribal Agriculture Council - American Indian Foods
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) USDA Local Food Directory
SW
W
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES These resources were developed by the Urban School Food Alliance:
K-12 Specification Guide
Self-Assessment Procurement Tool
School districts that tailor school food service procurement policies and procedures using best practices from commercial food service achieve benefits in food quality, supply chain, and food cost.
A handbook for developing specifications in school foodservice. “Specifications are essential to fair, open, and competitive procurement.” The goal of good procurement is to obtain the items you want at the best prices in a consistent supply. You begin by defining: • what you want (specifications) • what quantity • timing of purchases • forecasting volume and sharing that with your partners in the process. This guide shares sample specifications, USFA standards, and additional resources.
Putting the Puzzle Pieces of Procurement Together: Training Presentation
Review the presentation used at TeamUp trainings on procurement throughout the United States.
Nationwide FREE Toolkits
Institute of Child Nutrition Farm to School Resources Native Farm to School Resource Guide
USDA Farm to School Planning Toolkit USDA Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs Guide
Find even more resources on the USFA website here.
SOURCING LOCALLY A project of the Urban School Food Alliance WWW.URBANSCHOOLFOODALLIANCE.ORG
www.UrbanSchoolFoodAlliance.org
This project has been funded in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, through a cooperative agreement with the Urban School Food Alliance. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
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