Whether it’s trying on a new pair of shoes or eating a new item from your favorite restaurant, there’s always a feeling of excitement when you try something new. Here at USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), we get that same feeling when we are able to create new opportunities for our nation’s producers. That’s why we’re excited to announce that AMS and our sister agency—the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)—have launched a new pilot program for the procurement of unprocessed fruits and vegetables.
The new pilot program—established by the 2014 Farm Bill—is part of USDA’s continued commitment to create and expand opportunities for our nation’s fruit and vegetable producers. The pilot will open doors for American producers, giving them an additional opportunity to supply quality, fresh fruits and vegetables to schools in up to eight states.
In addition to helping American producers, the program will allow schools to purchase unprocessed produce from eligible suppliers with entitlement funding, while leveraging pre-existing commercial distribution channels and existing school relationships with growers, produce wholesalers and distributors. And, although the pilot doesn’t limit the produce to just local purchases, it does offer an opportunity for schools to expand their use of locally-produced fruits and vegetables. With Farm to School Census results showing that 56% of school districts that bought local food would like to buy more in the future, the ability to purchase more local foods is an important aspect of the new program.
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