Tips for a Successful Farm to School Program

Are you a farmer looking for help with selling your produce to schools? Or a school wondering how to get the most for your money? Check out our tips for a successful Farm to School program:

Tips for Farmers

In their efforts to serve the freshest products possible to the students, many schools and districts are interested in acquiring locally grown farm products. This presents an opportunity for Florida farmers to work directly with the districts/schools to provide the fresh products they’re seeking. 

Most school districts buy their produce from wholesale distributors who make regular deliveries of a wide variety of seasonal and non-seasonal items. However, there is an opportunity to have your product delivered directly to the schools with your trucks.  

Getting Started

1. Contact the person listed for the district or school, and discuss the products you have available that they might be interested in.
2. Determine if you have the products the districts need. Fresh fruits and vegetables requiring a minimal amount of kitchen processing are ideal.
3. Ask about the school or district’s volume of produce used on a weekly basis for each item you can provide and the condition they are delivered in.
4. When meeting with the school representative, be prepared to provide more information about your operation to them. They may need samples or want to see your facility.
5. You must have a written contract with the school or district; discuss with the school or district how the contract will be awarded, delivery procedures, invoice terms, etc.
6. Determine how your products will be delivered to the school or district. This may be indirectly via a local distributor or directly with your trucks.
7. Keep in mind that most schools and districts like “just in time” deliveries. Due to limited storage space, they want the product delivered as close to the serving date as possible.
8. Discuss the kind of condition the school or district expects your product to be delivered in; i.e., cleaned, washed, shucked, trimmed, etc.
9. Deliver the highest quality product you can, in the quantities ordered, at the agreed-on time and location(s).

Tips for Schools

Menu, Menu, Menu

Emphasize seasonable, fresh produce by menuing produce often during the harvesting month. Encourage collaboration with your adjacent districts or groups to menu produce during the same weekly cycle. This puts an even greater demand on the product and helps distribution. Collaboration between multiple districts will assist growers and distributors with anticipated usage and ensure availability. Growers will be able to plan ahead based on advance notice of what you will be serving.

Contracts

Review your produce contracts to ensure local produce is being delivered. In order to ensure that products are local, require the distributor to provide the list of farms where the produce is purchased. Contact our office for assistance to tighten language in your contracts to buy local when available.

Volume

Collaboration with your neighboring districts will increase volume. Increased volume will translate into decreased pricing.

Educational Material

Receive educational materials and outreach surrounding Florida-grown products from our office. All materials will heighten awareness of local produce being served to teachers, parents and students. Boost your student participation and support your local community.