Bill explains how the USDA’s Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS) positively impacted The Common Market Southeast and its ecosystem of family farmers and community partners. While the programs are ending, they helped catalyze the local food distributor’s mission of building small farmer capacity.
At the annual SOWTH conference, Agnes Scott College earned the 2024 Farmer Champion Award from Georgia Organics for its commitment to strengthening local food systems and supporting sustainable agriculture.
The college was honored with the award after serving students local food and consistently purchasing locally sourced foods in 2024. Agnes Scott committed to purchasing food from local farmers through its local food distributor, The Common Market, and supported 19 regional farmers and producers through their purchases.
Mercer University was recognized with the Farmer Champion Award by Georgia Organics, celebrating its unwavering commitment to strengthening local food systems and supporting sustainable agriculture.
"Morrison chefs communicate their purchasing commitments in advance, allowing these producers to make appropriate investments into their operations and grow with minimized risk, supporting The Common Market to onboard even more producers of color and to be involved in a forward commitment schedule. This has created a positive impact for our farmers in the southeast, with Morrison being at the forefront of the journey."
For seemingly forever, cafeteria food has gotten a bad “wrap.” But school districts are trying to change with the times, promoting healthier and more varied options for students. The school district's pilot program recently received $40,000, through the Georgia ACRE Collective, allowing it to further its locally sourced food options for students. Chef David Garcia with Marietta City Schools (MCS) knows all about the change.“If I’m going to make any change to the school system, this is the way to do it,” Garcia said.
The initiative is made possible through support from the Georgia ACRE Collective’s Local Food Incentive Pilot, a program facilitated by The Common Market Southeast and other Georgia-based organizations that aim to support an equitable regional food system. The pilot program has been instrumental in helping RCPS integrate more locally sourced ingredients into its menus providing students with fresh, high-quality food.
The Cherokee County School District’s School Nutrition program has earned a statewide honor for serving locally grown food.
The Georgia Public School Local Food Procurement Champion Award, which was accepted by CCSD School Nutrition Executive Director Tina Farmer on behalf of the department, recognizes the Georgia school district with the most purchases from local farmers through The Common Market, a nonprofit regional food distributor.
To commemorate National Black Business Month in August, Aramark highlights some unique partnerships the company values and nurtures below.
Chefs at several Aramark Collegiate Hospitality accounts in the southeast have been working with Arkansas River Rice, the largest Black-owned rice mill in the U.S., which offers several types of rice grown from local farms.
Aramark first began working with Arkansas River Rice through a partnership with The Common Market, a nonprofit regional wholesale food distributor that connects communities to food grown by local farms.
The Conservation Fund’s latest farm acquisition in Chattahoochee Hills pushes the total acreage conserved over the 1,000-acre milestone and is a great example of all that the Farms Fund has to offer to farmers and the community. Along with cropland, pastures and room to expand for our next two farm owners, the 154-acre property also includes forests and wildlife habitat. This work aligns with The Conservation Fund’s role as a member of the Georgia ACRE Collective, a coalition including The Common Market Southeast.
Something fresh is growing at Rockdale County Public Schools. The district is prepped to launch a new local foods pilot program supporting small farms led by people of color, women and others historically excluded from market opportunities while exposing students to more locally grown, nutritious food. The program recently kicked off with new recipe development and nutrition training workshops held Jan. 17-18 at C.J. Hicks Elementary and J.H. House Elementary, celebrating Georgia-sourced fruits, vegetables and meats.
Our friendly and educated team is here to partner with you every step of the way. Connect today to learn of all the ways to partner with The Common Market.
"Often as a chef and manager, trying to buy local has been at the least a pain. Building a relationship with The Common Market has completely changed that experience. I know that the product I am buying is local down to the farm where it was grown. I am able to let the students know the people who grow their food so that they feel a real connection to those farmers. I look forward to a long and growing relationship with the Common Market."
— Allen Clark, Food Service Director, Sage Dining Services, Mount Vernon Presbyterian School