MPS is proud to partner with 19 farms, cooperatives and food hubs in the region to source fresh, sustainably grown vegetables and fruits for our school meals. Please see the map below for partner farm details.
Each winter, MPS releases a Farm to School Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify partner farms for the next school year through a competitive bidding process. All interested farms, farm cooperatives, food hubs, and aggregators are invited to complete the RFP to share information about their farm(s) and bid for the opportunity to grow specific crops for MPS. Farm to School partner farms and items are selected based on product quality, environmental sustainability, price, customer service, supplier diversity, and how grower values align with MPS nutrition goals.
The 2023 Farm to School RFP was issued on January 19. The deadline for farmers to register their intent to bid has now passed. Please review the background information at right to learn more about selling locally grown produce and other products of your farm to MPS in future years.
MPS selects partner farms through an annual, competitive bidding process. All interested farms, farm cooperatives, food hubs, and aggregators are invited to complete our Farm to School Request for Proposal (RFP) to share information about their farm(s) and bid for the opportunity to grow specific crops for MPS. MPS seeks to purchase a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, free range chicken and turkey, grass fed beef, dried legumes, dairy products, local grains, and more.
The deadline for farmers to register their intent to submit a bid to supply MPS in the 2023-2024 school has now passed. However, prospective bidders are invited to review the Farm to School RFP materials below in preparation for future years.
RFP 23-22 Farm to School Food Products and Appendix Four Response Form
To learn more about the Farm to School program and Request for Proposal (RFP), please contact Kirsten Weigle, Farm to School Coordinator.
Thanks to our partner farms, MPS students enjoy these fresh, local items in school cafeterias:
Apples Beets, red, gold, & chiogga Broccoli Brussel Sprouts Carrots, orange & tri-color Cauliflower Celeriac Celery Cucumbers Green Beans Kale Kohlrabi Melon, honeydew & watermelon Onions, red & yellow Parsnips Peppers, red & green bell Potatoes, red, yellow, & russet Radishes, red, beauty heart, & purple daikon Rhubarb Romaine Rutabaga Squash, butternut, delicata, yellow, zucchini & spaghetti Sweet Corn Sweet Potatoes Tomatoes, grape & vine ripe