This document outlines three hands-on exercises for planning local foods programs in schools: 1) Menu planning and cafeteria promotion using local products like cabbage, wheat, and squash, 2) Local purchasing by identifying local suppliers, completing forms, and preparing bids, 3) Planning an educational event by choosing a fruit or vegetable, coordinating activities, and conducting a taste test. The goal is to provide schools with practical tools and resources to integrate local and regional foods into their cafeteria and educational programming.

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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