Local Produce Procurement

Local procurement of fresh fruits and vegetables is an important part of successful farm to school programs. The list below is available to assist in sourcing local produce in season.

Visit the National Food Service Management Institute’s “Culinary Techniques for Healthy School Meals-Preparing Vegetables” link for helpful hints on how to prepare and cook fresh produce.

Check out the USDA Farm to School Program’s webinars on purchasing local foods and farm to school resources here.

Aggregators and Farmer Cooperatives

  • Tri County Cooperative Market
    Bill Dea
    (609) [email protected]
    http://www.tricountycoop.net/

Distributors That Source Local

  • Ambrogi Produce
    Larry Tambone
    (856) 845-0377
    [email protected]
    www.ambrogifoods.com
  • Common Market Philadelphia
    (215) 275-3435, Ext. 2
    http://www.commonmarketphila.org/
  • Guarino Sons Produce
    (609) 820-3062
    [email protected]
    http://guarinosproduce.com
  • Seashore Fruit & Produce Co. (DOD Fresh)
    Chad Yagodich
    (800) 727-4673
    [email protected]
    http://www.seashoreeast.com
  • Tramontano Produce
    John Tramontano
    908-753-4944
    [email protected]
    http://www.tramontanoproduce.com
  • Zone 7
    Mikey Azzara
    908 824-7195
    [email protected]
    http://www.freshfromzone7.com

Haulers

  • Paul’s Commodity Hauling, Inc.
    938 Union Rd
    Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
    (856) 467-0165

Farmer Direct Marketing Resources

  • NJ Council of Farmers and Communities
  • NJ Direct Farmer Marketing Association
  • NJ Farm Bureau
  • NJ Vegetable Growers Association

Regional Resources

  • Fair Food, Philadelphia
    • Farm to Institution
  • Food Trust

Fresh Fruit and Veg Program Consultants and Food Service Training
SmartPartners
Bill Scepansky
(717) 327-7878
[email protected]
http://www.smartpartner.biz/pages/school_programs.html