Below are common questions about Farm to Kids food safety.
Q: Can schools buy food directly from local farmers?
A: Yes! See the fact sheets below for more information about how to safely and legally serve local food.
- Approved Sources for Food Products
- Selling or Serving Locally Grown Produce in Food Facilities
- Approved Sources of Meat and Poultry for Food Facilities
- Safely Selling or Buying Locally Produced Eggs
Q: Can schools buy from a local food hub or aggregator?
A: Yes. An aggregator is an entity that is combining and distributing products from multiple farmers. Aggregators need to have a food handler license from the MDA. You can request for the license number to be listed on your invoice.
Q: What are the specific legal requirements for schools when purchasing local food?
A: The factsheet below from the Minnesota Department of Education provides a brief overview of what you need to know about legal requirements for buying local food, and how farmers meet food safety requirements.
Q: What are good food safety questions to ask farmers?
A: Having a conversation with a farmer is a great way to learn about their food safety practices and ensure the produce you receive is grown, harvested, and packaged using best food safety practices. The resources below have a list of questions you can ask farmers and helpful things to listen for when having a conversation.
- Food Safety Questions to Ask Your Farmer
- Talk With Your Produce Farmer About Food Safety
- Webinar: Food Safety for Buying Local Food
Q: My school is ready to learn more about buying local food. Where can I find more information, resources, and support?
A: There are several agencies and organizations that collaborate to support Farm to Kids in Minnesota:
- Minnesota Department of Education Farm to Kids
- Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture Local Food Fact Sheet Series
- University of Minnesota Extension Farm to School
Farm to Kids Office Hours
Join the Minnesota Farm to Kids Alliance and other stakeholders for these virtual discussions held on the second Wednesday of each month from 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Connect, learn, and ask questions about Farm to Kids, including local food purchasing, school gardens, and agricultural education. There are monthly themes to help guide the conversation, but you're welcome to bring any questions or topics to the group.
Sign up for monthly office hours. You'll receive a confirmation email with information about joining each monthly meeting.
