Via the Harvard Food Law and Policy Blog
Public institutions in Mississippi, including schools, hospitals and prisons, are increasingly recognizing the benefit of purchasing fresh, locally grown foods to serve in meals to people under their care. To support growers interested in selling to these institutions, we are pleased to announce the release of our new guide: “Farm to Institution: A Step-by-Step Guide to Selling Products to Local Institutions for Mississippi Growers” (Growers’ Guide).
Selling to local institutions helps to increase the economic viability of small and medium-sized growers in Mississippi, as they earn revenue that would otherwise be spent on food shipped in from other states and countries. These growers in turn strengthen the local economy by reinvesting that revenue into the community through hiring more workers and purchasing equipment and supplies, as well as scaling up their food enterprises and making fresh, local food more available. In addition to the economic benefits, serving fresh, locally grown products in institutional meals can lead to increased fruit and vegetable consumption for Mississippians eating those meals, and thus improving public health.