Resources for Producers

School Food Service (formerly known as “lunch ladies” and “cafeteria workers”) is it’s own unique market, with distinct differences from restaurants, grocery stores and farmers markets. Learning to effectively communicate with school food service is crucial to the success of marketing and selling your products. The school food system has been operating for  As School Food Service staff become more active in procuring local produce and get familiar communicating directly with farmers, here are some guides to how you can better understand and communicate with Food Service Staff:

•CAFF Bridge the Communications Gap: Guide to Help Farmers and School Food Service Staff Communicate Effectively 

•Vermont Feed: What Farmers Need to Know About Selling to Schools - this is Vermont specific, but has helpful information

•Translation Guide: Farming Amounts to Purchasing Amounts