​There are numerous ways that schools can work to bring more local, Maryland-grown products into the cafeteria. Navigate the resources below to help find the method that works best for your school system. Use the links to the right for more specific information pertaining to Food Service Directors and Educators.

Ways to Incorporate Local Foods

1. Buy direct from a local farmer
2. Work with a farmers' cooperative
3. Buy at a local farmers' market
4. Order Maryland foods through your traditional distributor
5. Buy cooperatively with an organization with an established relationship with a farmer
6. Connect with a local food processor to "isolate" Maryland products in their processing chain.

Ways to Promote Your Program

1. Plan a tasting or cooking demonstration event.
2. Organize a farm tour
3. Put up posters in school and in the community
4. Highlight the program or a featured product in the newsletter or other school publication
5. Share Farm to School educational lessons and activities with parents, food service administrators,and the community.

General Resources

• Beneifts of Buying Local
• Distribution Models for Farm to School
• Going Local: Paths to Success for Farm to School Program
• Healthy Farms, Healthy Kids: Evaluating the Barriers and Opportunities for Farm to School Programs
• Minnesota Farm to School Toolkit