Jackson County Public Schools Seeking More Farmers for School Lunches

Jefferson County Public Schools, serving 90,000 meals per day and more than 17,000 fresh produce snacks three days per week, would like to increase its purchases of local food during the growing season 2013. Food service directors from counties contiguous to Jefferson have been invited.

JCPS would like to invite all farmers and other stakeholders interested in the future of local food purchases by JCPS to attend a meeting on Nov 2.

Farmer Meeting
2 to 4 p.m.
Friday, Nov 2, 2012
360 Farmington Ave.
Louisville, KY 40209

JCPS representatives will explain how to participate with both the School Lunch Program and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program. Farmers, distributors and extension agents can learn more about the bid process and the produce items that will be put up for bid. Contracts typically guarantee a price for the farm product, but do not require a farmer to supply product if weather impedes the crop.

In addition, representatives from the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable snack program will be at this meeting, with a list of local products they can use.

At the end of the meeting we'll spend some time going over bid sheets to help folks understand them a little better. Distributors will also be invited, as they are in some (not all) cases necessary to get food to the schools.
 

If you plan to come, please register at http://jcpsfarmermeeting.eventbrite.com so we'll have enough materials on hand and enough chairs for everyone.