Hands-on Tools for Local Foods in Schools
National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
March 21, 2009
Cafeteria Menu Planning and Promotion Exercise
Resource: Minnesota Toolkit for Food Service
Available at mn-farmtoschool.umn.edu
1. Identify your scenario
• Number of lunches served
• Type of food production – scratch cooking, heat and serve,
combination
• Menu type – main lunch, ala-carte, salad bar
• Equipment, refrigeration, and storage available
• Urban, rural, or suburban school district
2. Select local products of interest
Toolkit Packet for: Cabbage, Whole Wheat, Potatoes, Squash
3. Plan a Local Foods Cafeteria Promotion
• Identify the Local Product You Want to Feature
• Select a Recipe and Menu Item
• Identify a Farmer or Source of Product from Your Region
• Determine the Quantity to Purchase
• Write an Announcement to be printed off and given to classroom
teacher
• Identify a Topic for a Brief Newsletter Article
• Plan a Cafeteria Tasting or Activity
4. Report back

Hands-on Tools for Local Foods in Schools
National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
March 21, 2009
Local Purchasing Exercise
Resource: Purchasing Michigan Products: A Step-By-Step Guide
Available at www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu
5. Identify your scenario
• Number of lunches served
• Type of food production – scratch cooking, heat and serve,
combination
• Self-operated or contracted food service
• Urban, rural, or suburban school district
6. Select local products of interest
Tool: Michigan products list and availability chart
7. Plan to purchase local products with a local food bid
• Identify resources to link to farmers in your area
Tool: Resources to Link with Local Farmers
• Complete product availability and pricing form based on your products
of interest
Tool: Sample Product Availability and Pricing Form
• Prepare vendor questionnaire
Tool: Sample Vendor Questionnaire
8. Report back

Hands-on Tools for Local Foods in Schools
National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
March 21, 2009
Planning an Educational Event
Resource: Go Wild with Fruits and Veggies
http://www.extension.umn.edu/Nutrition/GoWild.html
1. Identify Your Scenerio:
• Size and type of school (urban, rural)
• Determine grade level(s) to target
2. Select Product
• Choose a fruit or vegetable to promote
3. Plan an Educational Event for the Cafeteria and/or Classroom
• Who will coordinate?
• Who will actually do the event?
• Plan for promoting fruit or vegetable as part of a color group? What
nutritional value can you highlight?
tool: Go Wild with Fruits & Veggies flipbooks
• What activities could be planned for a promotional event for the cafeteria
and/or classroom (brainstorm ideas)?
tool: School Cafeteria Promotion & Quantity Recipe Resource
• What could be taste tested in the cafeteria or classroom and what supplies
will be needed?
tool: Taste Testing Activity form
4. Report Back