PRESS RELEASE
February 9, 2007
Contact: Kelly Coleman, Program Coordinator,

Bidding the Farm: New state law encourages local agricultural purchases

(South Deerfield, MA) An apple from Colrain on your son’s lunch tray? A local food movement with the support of the Patrick Administration? Produce deliveries straight from the field to the school cafeteria? It’s true: school cafeterias and other state facilities now have a mandate to serve the freshest, tastiest food available! State legislation now encourages state facilities, such as schools and prisons, to purchase locally grown agricultural products, allowing for a price differential of up to 10%.
A recent letter from the Massachusetts Operational Services Division of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance to all state department heads, chief fiscal officers and general councils clarified new legislation in Massachusetts requiring food procurement officers at state facilities to “(1) make reasonable efforts to facilitate the purchase of products of agriculture grown or produced in the Commonwealth and (2) to purchase these products, unless the price of the goods exceeds the price of products of agriculture from outside the Commonwealth by more than 10%.” This directive came out of language in the Economic Stimulus Package that legislators, including Representatives Kulik, Scibak, Kocot, Guyer, and Story, and Senators Rosenberg, Knapik, and Brewer, passed this summer.

If implemented, this legislation could have significant implications for western Massachusetts farmers. “Schools and other state facilities buy enormous amounts of food every year,” said Annie Cheatham, Executive Director of CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture). “Parents have been complaining that their children are eating carrots from California when local growers can’t find a market for their vegetables. This law is an incentive for food service directors to seek local food.”

Before this legislation was passed, Massachusetts procurement officers were required to accept the lowest bid when purchasing products and services. This new regulation encourages purchasing agents to buy products from Massachusetts producers even if they are more expensive. It also allows purchasing agents to by-pass the bidding process for Commonwealth agricultural products, as long as the total cost of goods does not exceed $25,000. This means that our farmers can be more competitive with produce raised overseas, in other states or in Mexico or Canada. Tim Smith, owner of Apex Orchards in Shelburne, has encountered difficulty in getting his fruit into local schools in the past. He says, “We’re on the outside looking in right now and are working to expand that part of our business. We’re hoping this law will make a big difference for us.”

Massachusetts is not alone in its effort to bring more locally produced food to school children in public schools. Many states have language supporting contracts with local companies, and a handful have legislation specifically supporting the purchase of local agricultural products. Vermont law encourages the purchase of locally grown products, Texas and Colorado state laws settle tied bids in favor of in-state producers, and Maryland and New Mexico allow in-state agricultural products to cost up to 5% more while Alaska allows a difference of up to 7%. With the new legislation, Massachusetts joins Hawaii and Louisiana as states with the most friendly geographic-preference laws, allowing a price differential of 10%.

School lunches are quite a production- between sourcing food, planning menus, working out budgets, cooking and serving meals to hungry kids and teachers, shifting procurement systems to incorporate more local food can be very challenging work. Parents, teachers, school nurses, community members, farmers, and cafeteria managers are encouraged to contact Kelly Coleman at CISA, (413)665-7100, ext 14, or Kelly@buylocalfood.com, for guidance in building new purchasing relationships.

Resources: To see the complete Massachusetts bill, please visit http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht04pdf/ht04429.pdf

To see the letter from Ellen Bickelman, State Purchasing Agent, please visit http://www.mass.gov/Aosd/docs/policy/agric_pref.doc

Information on other state geographic preference laws came from:
http://www.csgeast.org/neagworks2.htm
http://www.doa.state.nc.us/PandC/rplaw.htm

CISA is a community organization of farmers, consumers, and businesses working together to sustain agriculture and the unique rural character of our communities. CISA is the creator of the ‘Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown’ marketing campaign to promote the purchase of local agricultural products by local consumers. Learn more about CISA at www.buylocalfood.com or call 413-665-7100.

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