Florida F2S Academy: Producers
The Florida F2S Academy provides farmers and producers with the resources you need to unlock a new business opportunity: selling to schools.
Whether you’re exploring Farm to School for the first time or looking to expand, our Florida F2S Academy and dedicated Farm to School team are here to help.
Attend Our Weekly Forum Access Resources & Trainings Book a One-on-One Explore Events
What to Expect from the Academy
Just last year, Florida schools spent over $34 million on local food. Through the Academy, we’ll teach you how to tap into that market with guidance, tools and a team that’s ready to support you, with:
- One-on-one calls with our F2S team. Book time now.
- Virtual Town Halls with guest speakers sharing tips and success stories.
- Bringing the Farm to School trainings across the state to teach you how to get your food into schools.
- And much more!
Don’t see the resource you’re looking for below? Contact our team.
Evènman
New to Farm to School? This is a great place to start! Learn how the Florida Farm to School initiative’s three pillars work together to ensure kids, farmers and communities across the state win.
If you are a ending a producer training in your state, you will see that each section in this workbook corresponds with a module from the training. Each section in this workbook covers a different aspect of selling local food products to schools.
This video tutorial will walk you through the steps to create your Florida Farm Connect account and set up your farmer profile. From entering your farm details to highlighting your available commodities, we’ll show you how to make your profile stand out to school buyers across the state.
As a farmer, rancher, fisherman, or other food producer, large or small, this means that there are market opportunities in your own backyard and a chance for your farm’s bounty to nourish children in your community. You can play a role in supplying local products to schools to serve during breakfast, lunch, and snack times, as well as educating students about food and agriculture.
Whether you are producing food or preparing it, keeping food safe is a critical part of healthy eating. Become familiar with best practices for produce safety, including receiving, storing, handling and processing.
This resource supports farmers and producers by providing practical strategies, tools and guidance to connect with schools and understand the process of getting locally grown goods onto school lunch trays.
Using this process map, you can find a way to connect with Florida Farm to School in your community. Each step is a clickable link to assist you on your way to success.
“Bringing the Farm to School” Producer Trainings
Fòmasyon Farm to School yo mete a dispozisyon pou pwodiktè aliman ki enterese aprann sou fant manje nan mache skolè yo. Fòmasyon yo sikile nan tout eta an.
- Aprann kòman pou jwenn aksè nan mache lekòl yo, pwosesis mache piblik yo epi kilti pwodwi pou mache lekòl yo.
- Tande pwodikte pale sou jan yon reyisi navige mache Farm to School yo.
- Jwenn nouvo konesans sou resous pou agrandi biznis ou pou benefisye de debouche nan mache lekòl yo.
Kisa ki manje lokal ?
Manje lokal kapab nan nenpòt gwoup alimantè, tankou vyand, ze, sereyal, fwi, legim oubyen pwodwi letye. Chak distrikt skolè etabli pwòp definisyon li pou “kiltive oubyen elve lokalman”.
Sa kapab genyen ladan li atik ki pwodwi nan konte lekòl lan, anndan yon sèten distans de lekòl lan, nan Florid oubyen maksimòm yon èdtan distans nan machin de lekòl lan.
Definisyon an kapab kouvri pwodwi oubyen li kapab chanje selon sezon an.
Èske yo kapab sèvi vyand nan Pwogram Nitrisyon Timoun yo ?
Wi. Betay avèk volay dwe transfòme anba enspeksyon federal.
Èske yo kapab itilize ze poul fre nan pwogram nitrisyon timoun yo ?
Wi. Se pou ze yo konfòm avèk egzijans Depatman Agrikilti epi Sèvis Konsomatè Florid lan.
Èske fwi avèk legim lokal yo kapab sèvi nan pwogram nitrisyon timoun yo?
Wi. Pwodwi agrikòl yo kapab achte oubyen bay kòm don dirèkteman nan men yon agrikiltè, oubyen a travè yon distribitè, pòl alimantè, mache agrikòl, makèt oubyen jaden skolè. Fwi avèk legim ki pa transfòme ki kenbe karaktè natirèl yo admisib. Transfòmasyon minim, tankou konjle oubyen rache epi mete nan sachè, admisib.
Èske se pou pwodiktè yo dwe genyen sètifikasyon GAP?
Non. Sètifikasyon GAP (Bon Pratik Agrikòl) lan volontè sòf si yon distrikt skolè egzije sa. Se pou founisè yo swiv pratik aliman san danje sa yo epi bay lekòl yo dokimantasyon sou nenpòt plan manje agrikòl san danje.
Ki papye ki nesesè pou van sponsò pwogram nitrisyon pou timoun yo?
Enfòmasyon sou trasabilite epi pri, avèk garanti epi asirans manje san danje yo nesesè lè moun vann bay lekòl.
Kisa ki pwosesis akizisyon yo lè moun ap vann bay lekòl yo?
Lekòl yo kapab itilize twa diferan kalite pwosesis pou achte manje, selon kantite yo achte an:
- Mikwo-akizisyon kapab sèvi pou acha ki mwens pase $10,000 ($50,000 nan sèten distrikt skolè) sa pran plizyè apèl dòf. Lekòl yo dwe distribye mikwo-akizisyon egalman ant vandè kalifye.
- Pwosesis enfòmèl kapab sèvi pou acha ki mwens pase $250,000; se pou twa kotasyon dokimante epi evalye avan seleksyon òf ki gayan an epi fè akizisyon an.
- Pwosesis fòmèl yo sèvi pou acha ki plis pase $250,000. Achtè yo prepare yon apèl dòf, fè piblisite pou apèl dòf lan, epi evalye epi akòde yon kontra bay soumisyonè ki bay pi ba pri ki responsab.
Gade wè kòman achtè yo sible manje lokal avèk zouti USDA Decision Tree an.
Don yo admisib epi yo kapab sèvi pou rezon fiskal. Gade wè gid taks ki rele A Farmer’s Guide to the Enhanced Federal Tax Deduction for Food Donation, ki disponib nan men National Resource Defense Council.