This document summarizes the Fresh & Local in Philly Schools program, which aims to bring local food to schools in Philadelphia. It involved collaboration between various organizations to source produce from local farms for school meals. In a pilot at 5 high schools, about $15,000 of local produce was purchased by year's end. The program looks to expand to 20 schools while continuing to address challenges of minimum orders, recipe development, and securing long-term funding.

1. Fresh & Local in Philly Schools:
Growing, Cooking, Buying, & Learning Through Collaboration
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

2. Who: It all begins with people
The School District of Philadelphia
The High School of the Future
Fair Food
The Food Trust
Common Market
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

3. Why: Farm to School in Philly
Better question: Why not?
Philadelphia: Over 50% below at or below poverty line
Youth: Over 76% of about 163,000 students eligible for free or
reduced-priced meals; over 2/3 of all youth overweight or obese
Agricultural landscape: Highly diversified, small, mid-sized and larger
farms in Southern NJ and Southeastern PA
Timing: Local food system in Philadelphia strong, growing,
infrastructure gaining capacity; good political timing
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

4. Why: Farm to School in Philly
School District of Philadelphia Snapshot:
• 163,064 students
• 312 schools
Nutrition services:
• 117,000 lunches daily
• 52,000 breakfasts daily
• 4,200 after-school snacks daily
• 76% qualify for free or reduced lunch
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

5. How: Meeting of the Minds
The beginnings of collaboration….
Fair Food, The Food Trust, and a willing funder
Common Market: on the road to institutional sales
Creating a common vision with the School District:
to introduce fresh, locally grown fruits and
vegetables into school meals to better serve our
youth and our agricultural economy.
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

7. How: The Right Source for Local
Why Common Market?
A consolidator and distributor of *ALL* local produce in
Philadelphia
Sources farms from Southeastern PA & Southern NJ
Mission-based non-profit business model to serve ALL
communities of Philadelphia
Experience with institutional buyers!
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

8. How: Early Steps, Getting Ready
Timeline:
Brainstorming: Winter 2007-2008
Consensus: Spring 2008
Farm Tours: Summer 2008
Planning & contracting: Fall-Winter 2008
RFP for Local: April 2009
“Early” kick-off: May 2009
Full kick-off: September 2009
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

9. Decisions: Contracting & Schools
How many schools? In what part of the city? Things to
consider:
Logistics: Could supplier handle 20 schools? Should the
pilot start smaller since it was such a new idea? Could the
district afford it?
Five high schools selected– all with full-service kitchen with
3 located in West Philadelphia, and 2 located in North
Philadelphia
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

10. Decisions: Pricing, Relationships,
and Building in Local Food
Five schools:
University City High School
The High School of the Future
Overbrook High School
Central High School
Girls High School
Each school with its individual culture, strengths, challenges and
approaches to food service
Common Challenge: Budget! Each school has over 80% free and
reduced-priced lunch participants; the need was there, the
reimbursement challenges were the same.
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

11. Partnership: Program Support
Basics:
• Local Foods 101 Training
• Knife skills and winter vegetable training
• Ordering & logistics
• Communications
• Equipment
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

13. Partnership: Growing the Program
Additional Tools & Resources:
• Recipe binders
• POS cards
• E-newsletters
• Visits, troubleshooting
• CM communications, sales tracking
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

14. Marketing materials
Farm to school point of sale cards to highlight
local products on the line
Posters for farm to school network; 5 posters with
seasonal fruits and vegetables local to our region;
to be debuted September 2010
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

17. Challenges
Minimum orders & efficiencies
How to use those tough winter veggies
How to get the kids to try new things
Familiarity with products, prep and applications
Long-term sustainability
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

19. Successes
Trainings
Equipment needs assessment & procurement
Commitment for pilot project expansion
By year’s end, about $15,000 local produce purchased
Merging of initiatives like UNI, PUFFA, and Farm to School
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

20. Best Practices
Communication!!
Recipes
Hands-on trainings
Never underestimate the managers and cooks in those
kitchens!
Celebrating the small successes
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

21. Future: 20 schools & other partners
Program Expansion for 2010-2011 School Year:
For food service: trainings, equipment, farm tours
For students: messaging, marketing via print, electronic, and social
media
For parents: engagement around food in the school community
For growers and local businesses: connections and explorations
around more local fresh cut & frozen products
For everyone: advocacy around policy for sustained change
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org

23. Thank you
Contact: Deb Bentzel
Farm to Institution Program Manager
Fair Food
deb@fairfoodphilly.org
215-386-5211 x 102
Fair Food is dedicated to bringing local food to the marketplace, and promoting a humane
sustainable agriculture system for our region. www.fairfoodphilly.org