The document discusses defining and implementing a geographic preference for procuring local foods in school districts, including determining a definition for "local", setting preference points for local producers, and presenting the recommendation to the school wellness team and board for approval. It provides examples of eligible and ineligible products under geographic preference and an example of how preference points could impact an apple procurement bid.

1. Teresa Wiemerslage
Iowa State University Extension
Communications and Program
Coordinator
NIFF Coalition Coordinator
wiemer@iastate.edu
(563) 794-0599

2. “Why don’t we
grow our own
food in the
American
Heartland?”

3. NE Iowa Food & Farm Coalition
Food System Support Team
Child Nutrition Programs
Procurement Overview

4. Why Local?
Defining
Local for
Your School
FFI Youth 4-H Team ICN
January 18, 2012

5. Local Food is Good For…
• You
• Your Family
• Community and School
• Farmers
• Environment
What we eat matters…

6. 1. Apples
15 Foods… 2. Bell peppers
that can be grown in 3. Broccoli
northeast Iowa at a price 4. Cabbage
similar to conventional 5. Carrots
6. Cauliflower
school food sources.
7. Cucumbers
8. Melon: muskmelon
Local prices were based 9. Melon: honeydew
on in-season prices on 10. Melon: watermelon
produce grown in the field. 11. Radishes
12. Summer squash
13. Tomatoes (slicing)
Source: NE IA Food Service survey, 2010. 14. Tomatoes (cherry)
15. Winter squash

7. Examples of “Local”

8. Question
What is your definition of “local”?

10. Strategy A
Ensure that school district policies & practices support healthy
living of children, families and community members
Policy and System Change Target – Procurement policy
allows for geographic preference of local foods in schools
Activities to support change in target:
• Farm to School program
• Home Grown Lunch Week
• Food Service workshops
• Producers contracts
• K-3 Curriculum taught by high school students
• School gardens

13. What is Procurement?
•Generally, it is the process of purchasing goods
or services. Most important principle =
COMPETITION
• FREE AND OPEN competition. All suppliers
are on the same level playing field and have the
same opportunities for that business.

14. Why is Competition Important?
• Allows for best:
•Cost of products and services
•Quality of products and services
•Important:
Procurement procedures may never unduly
restrict or eliminate competition.

15. Procurement Methods
• Informal procurement
•Small purchase threshold
•Under $100,000
•Formal Procurement
•Competitive Sealed Bidding
•Competitive Negotiation
•Examples: milk, bread

17. Question
Why do you think a local farmer
may need an advantage in bidding
to a school?

18. Geographic Preference
2008 Farm Bill amended the National School
Lunch Act to allow institutions receiving funds
through the Child Nutrition Programs to apply a
geographic preference when procuring
unprocessed locally grown or locally raised
agriculture products.
•Local = Discretion left to the institution
responsible for procurement
•Unprocessed = only those agricultural products
that retain their inherent character

19. Cooling
“Unprocessed”
Refrigerating/freezing
Drying/dehydration
means only those Washing
Packaging
agricultural products that Butchering livestock, fish and
retain their inherent poultry
Pasteurization of milk
character. The effects of
the following handling and Size adjustment through size
preservation techniques reduction made by:
Peeling
shall not be considered as
Slicing, dicing
processing: Cutting, chopping, grinding
Shucking

20. Eligible for Geo Preference?
(Processed or Unprocessed?)
Sweet corn on the cob Geo. preference
Local Apples Geo. Preference
Local Yogurt Not Geo. Preference
Local Jam and jellies Not Geo. Preference
Local Honey Geo. Preference
Local Chicken Geo. Preference
Schools can still purchase!

21. Using Geographic Preference
Two steps:
1. Schools define local.
2. Define Preference points
• Percentage
• Cents/pound
• Points

22. EXAMPLE
Product Spec: APPLES, FRESH: to be packed to US
No.1 or higher standard. Any crisp variety; 125 count
minimum. (40 lb case). Five, 125 ct boxes needed
weekly for 16 weeks, Aug 29-Dec 15.
Geo. Pref.: 100 miles and 10 cents/lb.
Bidder 1 Bidder 2 Bidder 3
(Distributor) (Grocery Store) (Orchard)
Price $25.00/case $26.00 $27.00
$0.625 $0.65 $0.675
Meets Geo Pref No No Yes
Final Price $0.625 $0.65 $0.575

23. Geographic Preference
•Handout 5. Survey
•South Winneshiek •Oelwein
•Valley •North Winneshiek
•Central • Riceville
•North Fayette •Turkey Valley
•St. Joseph

24. Implementing Geographic
Preference in NE Iowa
1. Define “Local” (TODAY)
2. SFA defines preference points
3. Present to School Wellness Team
4. Take recommendation to School Board

25. Geographic Preference
•Handout 6. Map with 50 miles and 100 miles.
•Handout 7. Map with 250 miles.
•Handout 8. Farms selling to schools

26. Step 1. Define Local
Ask your food service:
What local foods does your school serve?
What farmers supply local foods to your school?
What would be a good definition of local for your school
district? Discuss the pros and cons of each definition.
· Your county?
· Your county and surrounding counties?
· 50 mile radius?
· 100 mile radius?
· 250 mile radius?
· Your state?

27. Report Out

28. What’s Next?
1. Define “Local” (TODAY)
2. SFA defines preference points
3. Present to School Wellness Team
Take It Further:
4. Take recommendation to School Board