State Procurement Innovation Spotlight Series: The Growing Landscape of Statewide Local Food Solicitations
July 23, 2026 2:00PM - 3:15PM
Across the country, states are exploring new ways to make local food purchasing easier and more efficient for schools. One promising approach is the use of statewide or regional solicitations that allow multiple school districts to purchase local products through one streamlined bid. These coordinated models help scale up local procurement, but they also require strong partnerships, legal expertise, and dependable supply chains to succeed.
This webinar will provide an overview of the different approaches states are using to develop and manage statewide solicitations for local food purchasing. Participants will learn about a range of models, including both state agency-led and public-private partnership-led programs and programs that leverage existing USDA distribution systems and online procurement platforms. Following the overview, a panel of state leaders will share their experiences developing and implementing these programs, discuss lessons learned, and reflect on the factors that have contributed to their success.
Featuring:
- Walter Beal - North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
- Kanika Campbell - Maryland Department of Education
- Simca Horwitz - Massachusetts Farm to School Network
- Dani Perez - Utah State Board of Education
- Leanne Eko - Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
This session is a part of the National Farm to School Procurement Community of Practice project, which is co-facilitated by National Farm to School Network, Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest New York, and Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.
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