School and institutional purchasing programs are a very important component of a strong local agriculture economy.  Feeding locally grown foods to students can be a good way for food service directors to improve the nutritional value and taste of school meals, while supporting the local economy. Selling local products to schools can be profitable for Massachusetts growers who are looking for a new way to connect with local consumers.  For participating farmers, the steady business represented by institutional purchasers can provide stability when retail markets are sluggish or harvests are high.

To date there are about 100 public school districts, private schools, and colleges in the Commonwealth serving local food, over half of which have received assistance from the Massachusetts Farm to School Project funded by Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. Over 40 farms are currently selling locally grown foods to these schools across the state.

Local sourcing should be a priority for food service purchasing in state agencies, local government (including schools), and private institutions such as hospitals and universities.  Colleges, universities, and institutions can be “anchors” for local farm to school markets, which can also include local schools with less purchasing power

Local food preference should be incorporated in bid specifications and contracts.  The University of Massachusetts Amherst, in its contract with its distributors, reserves the right to purchase a certain percent of its produce from local farmers.  However, UMass Amherst is one of the few institutions that do not contract with a foodservice corporation, so this model may have limited applicability.

Food service management companies must take a leading role in purchasing local food, seeking out alternative distribution systems, and demanding accountability from distributors who sell “local” food.  Such an effort depends on reliable audit and verification systems described below. 

17.a    The Legislature should amend the Massachusetts Preferential Purchasing Law of 2006 to include state colleges and universities 

17.b    Institutional purchasers should consider the creation of on-site farmers markets

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