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LINKING FARMERS WITH INSTITUTIONS

The Chesapeake Farm to Institution Value Chain Coordination Project prepares both institutions and farmers to commit to larger local food sales transactions, leveraging important federal farm-to-school funding, and complying with state legislation on local food. It addresses the challenges institutions have in transacting with small family farms and prepares farmers to work within state institutions and public school procurement processes.

What we do

We develop strategies to expand local food in institutions such as state agencies, four-year public universities, correctional facilities and K through 12 schools; we identify and support farmers interested in working in those markets; we help create individual institutional demand plans, and coordinate farmers’ sales to meet those plans, identifying the best logistics for them, leading to purchasing commitments. We engage key partners in the supply chain: County and State offices of Agriculture, Food Councils, food processors, and distributors.

LET’S WORK TOGETHER!

Wherever you are in the local food supply chain, we’ll work with you to build the partnerships, capacity, and logistics needed to move local food from farm to institution. Find your role below to see our support offerings and take a quick assessment to get started.  

FOR INSTITUTIONAL PROCUREMENT OFFICERS AND FOOD SERVICE DIRECTORS

  • Identify solutions to local sourcing challenges and develop a customized purchasing plan.
  • Integrate local products into your supply chains.
  • Optimize delivery logistics and timelines.
Take the local procurement readiness assessment for institutions

FOR FARMERS, FISHERMEN, OR LOCAL VALUE ADDED PRODUCERS

  • Assess your wholesale market readiness.
  • Access wholesale markets, including institutions.
  • Connect with technical assistance for crop planning, food safety, and wholesale packing and logistics.
Take the producer wholesale readiness assessment

FOR DISTRIBUTORS OR AGGREGATORS

  • Identify and onboard local farmers and producers as new suppliers.
  • Identify local products in your existing supply network.
  • Plan jointly with vendors to meet clients’ local sourcing goals.
Take the local food procurement assessment for distributors/aggregators

For questions or more information, contact the CAIC Value Chain Coordination Team at vcc@caic.org or fill out the form below.

Want more information about how the VCC team can support you? Fill out this contact form to get in touch and set up a meeting:

Additional Resources

Maryland Commercial Produce Availability Calendar

This calendar shows local products available in commercial quantities in Maryland. Use this calendar for seasonal menu planning. Note that this is not an exhaustive list of products available from Maryland producers.

Why Local? One-pager

This flyer presents the benefits of local food. Use this one-pager to promote local food in your organization or to create your own educational materials about local food.

Maryland Local Food Aggregators

Here is a list of organizations and businesses that aggregate local food in Maryland and surrounding areas. If you are a small producer, reach out to these organizations to see if they can support your product distribution. If you are a buyer or distributor, reach out to these organizations for streamlined purchasing from small, local producers.

MINI-GRANTs

Mini-Grants up to $5,000 are available for:
– Market Research and Validation of Target Market
– Customer Acquisition
– Product Development Initiatives
– Food Safety Classes
Eligibility
Value-added producers and companies with traction ($20,000 or more in yearly revenue) in Maryland and Delaware are eligible to apply for Mini-Grants. Participants may apply once for each of the categories. Applicants must demonstrate that they have a unique and differentiated product or service that incorporates an aspect of innovation or technology in its production, processing, distribution, or other element of the food supply system.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Award decisions will be made and funds will be available no later than three weeks following the receipt of a completed application.
Application Process
Applicants must submit Mini-Grant proposals by filling out the form at this link. Copy(ies) of quote(s), proposal(s), estimate(s), or any other supporting documents.

MINI GRANT APPLICATION

ACCESS TO SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS (SMES)

CAIC offers access to Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who can offer authoritative advice based on their deep knowledge and experience in a specific area. See the ADVISORS page of this Web site to learn more about the SMEs who are available to CAIC participants.

Register For The CAIC