Awarded Local Vendors for Schools

New Statewide Procurement for Local Seafood Awarded

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) has executed another state-wide seafood solicitation for schools. This procurement was issued to enable seafood vendors to sell more locally caught seafood into the school market while lessening the procurement burden for schools.

MAPC executed the RFP, which was issued on behalf of the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA), and therefore covers all cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The process was led by MAPC, in conjunction with Mass. Farm to School and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.

We are delighted to announce the vendors listed below have all been awarded under this new contract, valid through June 30, 2027 with a potential 1 year extension.

MAPC is holding the contract for this seafood bid. Schools that choose to utilize this solicitation do not to conduct their own procurement process.

Please contact Kelsi Champley at KChampley@mapc.org to learn how to compliantly utilize this contract for your school nutrition program.

The full set of RFP documents (RFP, Bid Responses, Evaluations, Award Letters, Price Lists) is available here.

Chatham Harvesters Fishing Collaborative

https://www.chathamharvesters.com

95 Commerce Park, Bays 7-8
Chatham, MA 02659

Contact Information:
Brett Tolley
718-570-2377
Brett@ChathamHarvesters.com

Chatham Harvesters Cooperative, Inc., the only fishermen-owned cooperative in Massachusetts, operates a commercial seafood processor and commercial kitchen dedicated to connecting locally harvested seafood with communities throughout the Commonwealth. They specialize in providing fresh and frozen, locally landed seafood that offers complete traceability from harvest to delivery, giving customers confidence in the origin, quality, and sustainability of every product.

Price List coming soon

Service Area: Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts

Delivery Minimum: 50 lbs

Farm Fresh Rhode Island

www.farmfreshri.org

Contact Information:
Hurricayne Cabral
Market Mobile Program Director
401-312-4250 ext. 208
cayne@farmfreshri.org

Price List coming soon

Service Area: Massachusetts counties of Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, and parts of Barnstable, Greater Boston area, city of Worcester

Delivery Minimum: No minimum

North Coast Seafood

https://www.northcoastseafoods.com

Contact Information:
Andrew Wilkinson
617-872-4660
awilkinson@northcoastseafoods.com

North Coast Seafoods is a fully integrated seafood processor, importer, and exporter providing premium seafood solutions to foodservice operators across the United States with over 70 years of experience. Their Sea to School mission is to ensure all students have access to the nutritional benefits of seafood through engaging, practical, and sustainable school meal programs. Their signature K-12 program helps schools incorporate nutritious, sustainable seafood options that fit operational realities and budget constraints. We provide flexible menu solutions featuring both local favorites and underutilized species.

Price List coming soon

Service Area: Massachusetts

Delivery minimum: Depends on location and frequency of orders.

Red's Best

https://redsbest.com/

Contact Information:
Jamey Lionette
jamey@redsbest.com
857-321-8375

Red’s Best has been supplying fresh, frozen and value-added seafood products to over 200 schools throughout Massachusetts since 2008. They have successfully supplied seafood to numerous Massachusetts K-12 school districts over multiple school years and understand the product specifications, delivery requirements, food safety standards, and consistency needed to support school nutrition programs.

Price List coming soon

Service Area: Massachusetts

Delivery Minimum: Minimum order depends on location and frequency of orders.

Statewide Northeast Produce RFP Awarded

Northeast Produce RFP awards issued. Updated price sheets linked below.

The Northeast Produce RFP was issued to enable food sales between schools and local food aggregators (i.e., food hubs) from July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026. The contract has been extended through June 30, 2027. 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. Click on the vendor name below for more information including price lists and delivery areas.

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

Boston Food Hub

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

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

Boston Food Hub is a non-profit wholesale aggregator and distributor of fresh produce, dedicated to supporting New England growers by streamlining the process of bringing farmers’ most plentiful harvests to the wholesale market.

Products: Vegetables, Fruit

Price List

Delivery: Boston Food Hub can deliver throughout central and eastern Massachusetts, and requires a $250 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:

Farm Fresh Rhode Island

Contact Information:

Hurricayne Cabral
Market Mobile Program Director
401-312-4250 ext. 208
cayne@farmfreshri.org

Price List

Delivery Zone:

Massachusetts counties of Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, and parts of Barnstable, Greater Boston area, city of Worcester

Food Connects

www.foodconnects.org

Contact Information:

Patrick Ackerman-Hovis
Food Connects, Food Hub Institutional Sales & IT Specialist
patrick@foodconnects.org
802-689-8242 (direct line)
Order at: shop.foodconnects.org

Price List

Delivery Zone:

Growing Places (Local Food Works fiscal sponsor)

Contact Information

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 MA. With a focus on hyperlocal, 29 of the farms that Growing Places purchases from are located in the 27 communities North Central MA. We offer wholesale local produce that is whole or lightly processed (flash frozen, freeze dehydrated, chopped, diced, sliced, and more) to extend the growing season and cater to schools’ specific needs. We are also able to connect you with local farms in our region that sell eggs, dairy products and meat.

Products: Vegetables, Fruit, Herbs, Value Added Products

Price List

Delivery: Delivery is within a 1-hour radius of its central office in Leominster MA.

Marty's Local

Contact Information

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:

http://www.myersproduce.com

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!

Price List

Delivery Zone:

New Entry Food Hub

Contact Information

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

Worcester Food Hub is not accepting school customers at this time.

World Farmers

Contact Information

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 Produce Solicitation Means for Schools:

Schools 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 awarded produce vendors is between the school 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:

Only use this RFP for the specific products vendors listed in their RFP price sheets. For products beyond what is listed in the price sheets, please set up a separate procurement and contracting process.
If you need more information or documentation about the NFS RFP or about the information vendors submitted, please reach out to Kelsi Champley at MAPC KChampley@mapc.org , 617-933-0766.
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. We offer 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 RFPs

Find more resources for school nutrition program operators here.