Assumptions

• Current food and nutrition-related web sites provide information about foods, recipes, vendors, and curricula, but to our knowledge, none have the capacity to facilitate the transaction between the school food service buyer and the vendor.
• School Food Services may purchase more locally-grown produce if they could access produce more easily, such as receiving timely bulletins notifying them of produce availability, saving money on the purchase, and/or coordinating with growers in regard to produce needs in the future.
• Local produce vendors are looking for more markets for produce sales.
• Children will consume fruits and vegetables when presented with foods that are visually appealing and full of flavor. They are also more likely to eat foods they have had a positive experience with through food preparation, tastings, and positive campaigns.

Aim

Objectives

School Food Service will:

1) Increase the number of purchases from local produce vendors.
2) Increase time savings in produce procurement.
3) Increase the number of children choosing to eat school lunch meals (a.k.a. revenue).

Local Produce Vendors will:

1) Increase produce sales to schools;
2) Increase time savings and decrease costs through direct marketing.

Children will:

1) Increase fruit/vegetable intake at school;
2) Increase preferences for fruits and vegetables;
3) Improve attitudes about SFS offerings.

Agencies will:

1) CDA – Use HealthyFoodConnection.com as a school-producer connection platform cooperate with Market Maker.
2) CDE – Identify ways to facilitate school/local produce purchases within the existing USDA procurement regulations.