Center for Regional Food Systems

Kicking off on March 11, 2026, the National Farm to School Procurement Community of Practice brings together state agency officials and statewide technical assistance providers. Following a competitive application process, this new, two-year learning network brings together 74 members from 36 states who seek practical ways to strengthen local food purchasing in schools and early care facilities. Through convening these key players from across the country, the Community of Practice (CoP) will focus on statewide system-level strategies, especially those that do not require ongoing investment from the federal level.  

“Understanding the national landscape, the players, and the strategies emerging across states is central to the National Farm to School Network’s work,” Cassandra Bull, Policy Specialist, National Farm to School Network, said. “As interest in procurement grows, we are thrilled to meet the moment by uplifting our partners, holding space for conversations that ultimately build more stable, institutional markets for small family farms.”

How it Started  

The Procurement CoP is a collaboration between National Farm to School Network, Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest New York, and Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS). In response to the cancellation of Local Food for Schools in 2024, this group was brought together through a unified drive to support increased opportunity for schools to purchase local food. “We worked together to create a program that feels emergent based on the school food community,” May Tsupros, Director of Farm to Institution Programs, CRFS, said. This group is aligned to share replicable, low- and no-cost strategies that state-level champions can use to increase local purchasing without legislative action. 

How it Works 

To increase impact and maintain a lower lift for members, the CoP will meet every other month starting in March 2026 through December 2027. During on months, there will be a public webinar session featuring a state innovator that allows for anyone to join or watch the recording, followed by an in-depth discussion the subsequent week just for CoP members. This series will explore a wide range of topics, including scaled-up local food purchasing solicitations, regional farm to school coordinators, product development, and more.  

“Across the country, states are innovating and developing new local procurement strategies that work within a highly regulated environment,” said Cheryl Bilinski, Senior Extension Associate at Cornell University and Director of the Cornell Farm to Institution Program. “This Community of Practice creates a space for states to learn from one another: what worked, what didn’t, and what approaches may be replicable in our own contexts. It’s exciting, groundbreaking work, and I’m truly honored to be part of this group of thinkers and doers working to strengthen local food purchasing nationwide.” 

Get connected  

The application period to join the CoP has closed, but all are welcome to join the State Procurement Innovation Spotlight webinar series! The first event “Creating a Cost Neutral, Program-Funded Local Food Purchasing Incentive within the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program” will take place on March 19, 2026 at 2pm ET. This webinar will cover how the New Jersey Department of Agriculture developed a first-of-its-kind, cost-neutral local food purchasing incentive within the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). Register here. Information about future webinars will be released on a rolling basis.  

For Questions, please contact: 

• Cassandra Bull, Policy Specialist, National Farm to School Network, cassandra@farmtoschool.org 
• May Tsupros, Director of Farm to Institution Programs, Assistant Director for CRFS Programs, tsupros1@msu.edu 
• Cheryl Bilinski, Senior Extension Associate at Cornell University and Director of the Cornell Farm to Institution Program, cbt32@cornell.edu 

This project is co-facilitated by National Farm to School Network, Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest New York, and Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems. 

About the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

The Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems advances regionally-rooted food systems through applied research, education, and outreach. We do this by uniting the knowledge and experience of diverse stakeholders with that of MSU faculty and staff. Our work fosters a thriving economy, equity, and sustainability for Michigan, the nation, and the planet by advancing systems that produce food that is healthy, green, fair, and affordable. Learn more: foodsystems.msu.edu