Exploring Models of Local Food Procurement in Farm to Early Care and Education Programs

Abstract

Farm to Early Care and Education (Farm to ECE) initiatives generate similar benefits as Farm to School programs. However, there is a lack of research about local food procurement in Farm to ECE programs. We provide a descriptive evaluation of how 12 child care centers that participated in a Farm to ECE program procured local food. We found that centers purchased low volumes at the beginning of the program, creating challenges for establishing viable relationships with local food suppliers. Centers employed strategies such as building relationships with distributors and retailers, picking up local food, and aggregating demand with other centers and families to create successful programs.

Keywords

• farm to early care
• farm to school
• child care
• local food procurement
• collaborative learning