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Awarded Local Vendors for Schools

Statewide Northeast Produce RFP Awarded

The Northeast Produce RFP was issued to enable food sales between schools and local food aggregators (i.e., food hubs) from August 2023 – June 2024. This RFP was issued on behalf of the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA), therefore covering all cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The process was led by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), with the support of Mass. Farm to School. The following nine vendors have been awarded. Click on the vendor name for more information including price lists and delivery areas.

Access the full set of RFP documents (RFP, Bid Responses, Evaluations, Award Letters) and a sample contract here.

Download Full Directory of Vendors & Price Lists (PDF)

Boston Food Hub

91 Martin St., Acton, MA, 01720
https://www.bostonfoodhub.org/

Contact Information:
Annie Broad, Food Hub Manager
(781) 546-4700
sales@bostonfoodhub.org

Boston Food Hub, a social enterprise of Boston Area Gleaners, is a nonprofit produce distributor that connects New England farms with reliable wholesale markets. Boston Food Hub provides wholesale buyers, distributors, and institutions access to a wider array of local farms and food purveyors. Together we strengthen the local food supply chain, the local economy, and local access to fresh, healthy food for all.

Products: Vegetables, Fruit

Price List

Delivery: Boston Food Hub can deliver throughout central and eastern Massachusetts, and requires a 10 case delivery minimum.

 

Coastal Food Shed

Contact Information:
Dan King
508-259-2647
Dan@coastalfoodshed.org

A farmer food hub bringing fresh local foods to Greater New Bedford and Greater Fall River customers.

Price List

Delivery Zone:

 

 

Food Connects

22 Browne Ct Unit 110, Brattleboro, VT 05301
shop.foodconnects.org

Contact Information:
Tom Brewton, Institutional Sales Associate
802-258-1546
tom@foodconnects.org

Food Connects operates a food hub that delivers local and regionally sourced products from over 120 farms and producers to over 100 schools throughout VT, NH, and western MA. Our mission is to cultivate healthy food and farm connections in cafeterias, classrooms and communities.

Products: Vegetables, Fruit, Meat, Poultry, Beans/Grains, Dairy, Seafood, Eggs, Maple Syrup, Honey, Value Added Products

Price List

Delivery: Food Connects is thrilled to share that we have launched a new delivery route with the primary agenda to serve more schools! We take I-91 South from Bernardston as far as Holyoke. We can deliver to your district every Monday. Your minimum is based on school location(s).

 

Local Food Works (Growing Places)

325 Lindell Ave., Leominster, MA 01453
www.growingplaces.org

Contact Information:
Ayn Yeagle, Executive Director
Growing Places (Local Food Works Fiscal Sponsor)
508-331-6663
ayn@growingplaces.org

Local Food Works is a Regional Food Center that collectively aggregates and distributes local food products from 30+ farms in North Central MA. We offer wholesale local produce and are able to connect you with local farms in our region that sell eggs, dairy products and meat. Very soon we will be opening a food processing facility in Gardner, MA with the ability to lightly process local fruits and vegetables (cubed butternut squash, frozen broccoli florets) to make preparation easier for institutions like schools.

Products: Vegetables, Fruit, Value Added Products

Price List

Delivery: Delivery to North Central MA is part of their mission to create an equitable and sustainable local food system.

 

Marty's Local

10 Greenfield Road
PO Box 276, South Deerfield, MA 01373
www.martyslocal.com

Contact Information:
Sandra Thomas, Director of Marketing & Customer Support
413.347.9401
sandra@martyslocal.com

Marty’s Local strengthens our regional food system by linking exceptional farmers and food producers with local institutions. We are a wholesale distributor of local, high-quality fruits, vegetables, flour & grains, dairy, meats, cheeses, and specialty foods, along with produce from farther afield.

Products: Vegetables, Fruit, Meat, Poultry, Beans/Grains, Dairy, Eggs, Maple Syrup, Honey, Value Added Products

Price List

Delivery: $350 minimum. Delivery throughout western Massachusetts from the Berkshires east through the Pioneer Valley, Barre, Worcester to Metro West. Deliveries to eastern Massachusetts may be possible.

 

Myers Produce

Contact Information:
info@myersproduce.com
Myers Produce is a woman-owned regional distributor and trucking company operating out of Hatfield, MA.  We offer distribution and freight services to farmers and producers throughout our region.  We source from within the Northeast as a rule, and the majority of our sources are certified organic.  We specialize in fresh produce and carry fresh fruit, eggs, meat, cheese, grains, flowers, and added value products as well. We look forward to delivering to schools throughout MA!
Delivery Zone:

New Entry Food Hub

733 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915
https://nesfp.nutrition.tufts.edu/foodhub

Contact Information:
Sara Poggi Davis, Program Manager
978-656-1654
foodhub@nesfp.org

The New Entry Food Hub focuses on supporting small-scale beginning farmers to establish and grow their businesses through training, technical assistance and marketing support. Your wholesale purchases from New Entry allow us to continue connecting beginning farmers to institutional markets and supports our mission of bringing fresh and nutritious produce to underserved communities in the Greater Boston Area.

Products: Vegetables, Fruit, Value Added Products

Price List

Delivery: Offered year-round and free of charge for orders of $200 or more. We currently deliver Tuesday-Thursday throughout the Greater Boston Area and the Northshore. We are willing to expand our delivery range to bring local produce to schools.

Worcester Regional Food Hub

25 Francis Street
Worcester, MA 01606
worcesterfoodhub.org

Contact Information:
508-425-3145
info@worcesterfoodhub.org

By forming relationships with local farmers and distributing their food to schools, universities, health care facilities, markets, specialty shops and restaurants, the Worcester Regional Food Hub gets food into the hands of the people that need it the most.

Price List

Delivery Zone:

World Farmers

769 Main Street, Lancaster, MA 01523
www.worldfarmers.org

Contact Information:
Jessy Gill, Program & Policy Director
978-706-7935 / sales@worldfarmers.org

World Farmers advocates for and supports small-scale immigrant, refugee, and historically underserved farmers from farm to market. Our aggregation and distribution work follows a model similar to a growers association and a food hub and provides a stable market for immigrant and refugee farmers within our network. We support all vegetable farmers who specialize in cultural crop production.

Products: Vegetables, Beans/Grains, Value Added Products

Price List

Delivery: Specific range and minimums for delivery will be reviewed and discussed according to each account.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Check out our Local Food Map for additional farmers and food hubs interested in selling to schools. 

What This Means for School Food Authorities (SFAs): 

  • SFAs can contract with any of the awarded vendors without the need for a request for quotes, request for proposals, invitation for bid, or any other procurement process.
  • Any contract districts enter into with one of the vendors is between the SFA and the vendor. MARPA, MAPC, nor Massachusetts Farm to School hold any contracts with the awarded vendors. The RFP process was conducted to clear vendors through the state procurement process. 

Key Notes: 

  • If you need more information or documentation about the NFS RFP or about the information vendors submitted, please visit MAPC’s Website, or  reach out to Jessika Brenin at MAPC jbrenin@mapc.org, 617-933-0744.
  • Contracts may only cover products vendors listed in their price sheets as part of their response to the RFP. Click on the vendor name for a link to their product list. 
  • If you want to purchase products not listed in the price sheet, you will need to do a separate procurement process.
  • Vendors may offer products at a lower cost than is listed in their price sheet, but they may not charge a higher cost. 
  • It is your responsibility to make sure all federal, state, and local regulations that apply to your SFA are followed. Contact your legal department to learn more.

Additional Procurement Support Available to Schools

Looking for support sourcing local products in addition to produce? Reach out to Abby Getman Skillicorn at Mass. Farm to School,  abby@massfarmtoschool.org.  Throughout the year we will be offering workshops and individualized consulting including:

  • Guidance on strategically allocating your funds  
  • Direct connections to interested farms and food hubs
  • Support developing solicitations including 3-quotes or RFP 

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Phone: (413) 253-3844

Email: info@massfarmtoschool.org