1. An Introduction to Farm to Fork & Farm to School Procurement Presented by: California Farm to School Network California Farm to School Networkwww.cafarmtoschool.org July 15, 2014 Diana Abellera, Community Alliance with Family Farmers Sharon Cech, Urban & Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College Erin Derden-Little, Community Alliance with Family Farmers

2. Overview I.Overview of Farm to Fork Procurement II.City and County Initiatives III.Farm to School Models IV.How to Start a Worksite CSA V.Marketing & Community Awareness

3. What is Farm to Fork? Resources can be found at: http://cafarmtofork.com/ Any effort that enriches the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers. Products that are source-identified (by location or farm) Education about local food Access to local food / procurement Farm to Fork may include:

4. What is Procurement? Procurement Principles The purchasing of goods and services The purchasing of goods and services Government / institutions vs. retail / worksite / other Government / institutions vs. retail / worksite / other The procurement process involves: The procurement process involves: Resources can be found at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/

5. How do I start? 1)Gather stakeholders 2)Define your program goals, for example: o Support local growers or family farmers o Marketing to increase meal participation o Comply with policy 3)Set targets, for example: o Define “local” (250mi radius? State of CA?) o Identify desired percent of local product (5%? 25%?) 4)Create implementation and evaluation plan ?

6. City and County Initiatives A public commitment to “local” can be an important first step! City of Santa Cruz Humboldt County City of Los Angeles “The County Board of Supervisors … urges all community members to join in a month-long celebration of local agriculture, farmers, and producers who provide our food.“ “With this pledge, I declare my commitment to the Good Food movement and join with other concerned eaters to provide lasting support for Good Food within our 200- mile foodshed.”

7. Los Angeles Food Policy Council Resources can be found at: http://goodfoodla.org/policymaking/good-food-procurement/ Los Angeles Food Policy Council’s Good Food Purchasing Program is the most comprehensive and metric-based food purchasing policy of its kind in the nation.

8. Farm to School - Core Elements Resources can be found at: www.farmtoschool.org OR www.cafarmtoschool.org

9. Farm to School – USDA Census Resources can be found at: www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/census#/ 625/860 school districts completed survey 56% said they are doing Farm to School Of $274 million spent on school food, $51 million was spent on local food Citrus, apples, lettuce, berries, carrots

10. California Farm to School Network Resources can be found at: www.cafarmtoschool.org/ California Farm to School Network o Regular blog updates / stories o FoodCorps o Monthly activities o Listserv o Resources o Webinars o Calendars o Find out who else is in your region with the CFSN!

11. F2S Procurement – Farmer Direct AdvantagesChallenges Builds strong partnerships between schools and farmers Builds strong partnerships between schools and farmers Requires flexibility Requires flexibility The farmer can grow what you want and can implement contract growing The farmer can grow what you want and can implement contract growing More administrative work to manage multiple vendors More administrative work to manage multiple vendors Uses an informal bidding process Uses an informal bidding process Farmer acts as distributor Farmer acts as distributor No middleman, so farmers profit No middleman, so farmers profit Difficult for farmers to fill volumes for larger districts Difficult for farmers to fill volumes for larger districts The Farmer Direct strategy means that school food services buy directly from farmers. This strategy works particularly well for small districts in rural areas. Examples: Eureka City SchoolsEureka City Schools Santa Rosa City SchoolsSanta Rosa City Schools Ventura Unified School DistrictVentura Unified School District

12. F2S Procurement: Conventional Distributor AdvantagesChallenges You control specs through the RFP You control specs through the RFP Removes direct connection with growers Removes direct connection with growers Distributors respond to your needs Distributors respond to your needs Local doesn’t always equal small or disadvantaged Local doesn’t always equal small or disadvantaged Products can often be source- identified Products can often be source- identified Distributors may not be able to accommodate all needs Distributors may not be able to accommodate all needs Distributors are used to responding to market demands Distributors are used to responding to market demands Example: Oakland Unified School District Oakland Unified School District — Oakland, CA Conventional distributors offering local products can be a straightforward strategy for Farm to School sourcing, particularly for large districts.

13. F2S Procurement: Food Hubs Resources can be found at: http://oldgrovefarmshare.com/portfolio-item/bob/ AdvantagesChallenges Support small and midsized producers Support small and midsized producers Not many currently exist Not many currently exist Source-identified products from multiple farms with a single invoice Source-identified products from multiple farms with a single invoice Tend to be supplemental Tend to be supplemental (not volume of distributors) (not volume of distributors) Maintain level of relationship with growers Maintain level of relationship with growers Logistics can be more difficult (in house vs. coordination) Logistics can be more difficult (in house vs. coordination) Typically have adequate food safety certifications, insurance, etc… for institutional customers Typically have adequate food safety certifications, insurance, etc… for institutional customers Food hubs help small-scale farmers reach wholesale markets that they could not access on their own, and usually function like small distributors. Example: Old Grove Orange / Inland Orange ConservancyOld Grove Orange / Inland Orange Conservancy — Redlands, CA

14. Farm to Preschool Family Childcare Setting Resources can be found at: www.farmtopreschool.org PROCUREMENT STRATEGY: Farmers’ Market Institutional-scale Setting PROCUREMENT STRATEGY: Distributor

15. Farm to School Policy Local School District Policies: o Berkeley Unified: $450K school garden and nutrition program o Davis Joint Unified: $70K/year parcel tax o Oakland Unified: Measure J $40 million for facilities and farm o School Wellness Councils / Policies Resources can be found at: http://www.farmtoschool.org/policy

16. Oakland Unified School District

17. Farm to Hospital Resources can be found at: www.caff.org How-to Guide by Healthcare without Harm and Community Alliance with Family Farmers

18. Farm to Worksite – through CSA o Members purchase a “share” of the harvest o Farmer provides members with weekly shares of fresh, seasonal produce for a specified time frame o Payment is usually upfront Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

19. Farm to Worksite – through CSA Worksite CSA Model o Weekly shares are delivered directly to the workplace Imagine not having to stop at the grocery store on your way home from work…

20. Farm to Worksite – through CSA Workplace Wellness o Help employees access fresh, local food o Promote a healthier and more productive workplace For every dollar spent on wellness programs, the average employer saves $3.27 in medical costs. “Health Policy Brief: Workplace Wellness Programs,” Health Affairs, May 10, 2011

21. A) Identify a point person o One point of contact o Bridge to decision makers in the workplace o Main coordinator of logistics and communication… Farm to Worksite – through CSA How to Get Started: …YOU!

22. B) Find CSA(s) near you and what they offer o Delivery o Cost o Payment options o Share sizes (full, half) o Minimum number of members Farm to Worksite – through CSA How to Get Started: Search for CSAs through: Buy Fresh Buy Local Search Bar at caff.orgBuy Fresh Buy Local Search Bar at caff.org Local Farmers Market AssociationsLocal Farmers Market Associations UCCE and other Farmer Support OrganizationsUCCE and other Farmer Support Organizations

23. C) Build Participation o Determine whether workplace can provide financial support o Recruit members, secure commitment o Collect payment Farm to Worksite – through CSA How to Get Started:

24. D) Finalize Delivery Site and Systems o Secure location for boxes o System for unclaimed boxes/box return o Communication system Farm to Worksite – through CSA How to Get Started:

25. Farm to Worksite – through CSA Other Factors to Consider o Timing o Low-income Access

26. Farm to Worksite – through CSA Types of Worksites o Hospital o Senior Resource Center o School o Public Health o Office Building o Retail o Many more!

27. Farm to Worksite – through CSA Benefits Beyond Employee Health o Creates educational opportunity o Builds Community o Helps farmers reach new audience o Can open the door for procurement in worksite cafeterias

28. Farm to Worksite – through CSA Resources can be found at: www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/cpns/Pages/WorksiteFitBusinessKit.aspx#produce Resources o Outreach flier from CAFF o Worksite Program California Fit Business Kit: Ordering Produce for the Worksite o erin@caff.org

29. F2F Retail: Whole Foods Markets Resources can be found at: www.wholefoods.com #1) Sourcing Local #2) Marketing Local #3) Transparency What is Farm to Fork Retail?

30. Resources can be found at: www.uepi.oxy.edu #1) Sourcing Local #2) Marketing Local #3) Transparency Farm to WIC Pilot (2009-2012) 3 chains serving 9 stores3 chains serving 9 stores 4 primary products4 primary products Over 340,000 lbs of fresh local produce to WIC consumersOver 340,000 lbs of fresh local produce to WIC consumers Over $200K to local farmersOver $200K to local farmers F2F Retail: WIC-Only Stores

31. Marketing Campaigns

32. Upcoming Events Local Food MonthSeptember – Local Food Month www.localfoodmonth.org (Humboldt Co.) Farm to School MonthOctober – Farm to School Month www.farmtoschoolmonth.org Food DayOctober 24 – Food Day www.foodday.org

33. Thank You! For more information: Diana Abellera Statewide Food Systems Director Community Alliance with Family Farmers www.cafarmtoschool.orgfarmtoschool@caff.org 510-832-4625 x14 Sharon Cech Regional Food Systems Program Manager Urban & Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College www.uepi.oxy.educech@oxy.edu323-341-5091