Ideas and Inspiration
The Lake Michigan School Food Systems Innovation Hub finds and shares strategies and best practices for moving more resources to our students, schools and local economies.
Here you can explore fresh ideas for building and expanding partnerships to improve our system from farm to school.
FEATURED PROJECT IDEAS
Imperfect Produce
School Food Authorities (SFAs) purchase imperfect produce from suppliers at a reduced cost, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and increasing suppliers’ profitability.
Example
- Portland Public Schools (PDF) Page 52
Resources
SFAs and Non-Traditional Partners Collaborate for [Local] Food Procurement
Schools form new partnerships with other schools, local grocers or non-traditional partners (such as long-term care facilities, food banks, faith-based institutions and others) to leverage joint purchasing power.
Examples
Resource
Leveraging Food Hubs
Food Hubs provide sales, marketing, purchasing, aggregation and distribution services.
Examples
Resource
Searchable Directory
A shared directory enables schools to locate suppliers of specific food items in their area.
Example
Resource
New Farm/School Partnerships
Farmers, food service professionals and educators partner to ensure culturally relevant foods are available in school.
Examples
- Hmong American Farmers Association
- Lettuce Work Together
- Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians F2S program purchased produce from Choctaw Fresh Produce (PDF) Page 44
Resources
Indigenous Food Sovereignty
Partnerships of tribes, Native-led organizations, and school districts support food sovereignty for Native populations.
Examples
- Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians – Building Partnerships for Food Sovereignty (PDF) Page 33
- Oneida Nation School District
Resources
- Native Farm to School Guide: Connecting Traditional Foods, Stories, Language, and Community (PDF)
- Native Farm to School Guide (PDF) (A Project of First Nations Development Institute)