Local buying without the paperwork: a state turns USDA Foods tomatoes into school sauces
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Food Distribution Program launched two local food programs for schools this October with distributor Gold Star Foods. In one, Massachusetts manufacturer CommonWealth Kitchen turns USDA Direct Delivery diced tomatoes into marinara and tikka masala sauces for school meals; the other brings dried cranberries made from Massachusetts-grown fruit. The state program handles sourcing, procurement and distribution for districts, which it says reduces the procurement burden that often keeps districts from buying local.
Why it matters for directors: Local processing can stretch USDA Foods entitlement into ready-to-use menu items. Ask your state distributing agency which processed or local USDA Foods options it offers before writing your own local bid.
Original source: Gold Star Foods ↗