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Understand how schools buy food, how this market may be a good fit for your farm, and what strategies can help you access this market effectively. This training will help build capacity of farmers at all scales to meet schools’ demand for locally grown fruits and vegetables, and the unique challenges school sales present. Learn how to meet your buyers’ expectations for direct sales to schools, increase sales, and help get more Washington-grown fresh foods in front of students in your community.
At least half of this workshop will focus on the opportunity to become a vendor for the USDA Pilot Project for Unprocessed Fruits & Vegetables, which allows schools to use their USDA Foods entitlement funds to purchase fruits & vegetables locally. We’ll explain what it is, how it works, and how farmers can apply for the program. Fruit & vegetable farmers, processors (frozen and dried produce is eligible), and distributors can all become approved by the USDA as vendors to sell to schools through the program. We’ll include time at the end for in-person technical assistance on starting or completing your application (please bring a computer if you are interested!).
To be eligible for the USDA Pilot Project, vendors must have a GAP, GHP or GMP certification and product liability insurance, but any farmers, processors, or distributors are invited to attend, regardless of food safety certification.
Registration is available here.