Farm to Cafeteria Connections

New Montana Law Can Help You Buy Montana-Produced Foods for Your School

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I allowed to buy Montana-produced food under our state's procurement laws?
Yes! The 2007 state legislature adopted a law (SB 328) giving schools, universities, and other public institutions more flexibility to buy Montana-produced food. The new law exempts Montana-produced food from previous restrictions requiring purchases to meet lowest dollar bids. Using this exemption is completely optional for you.

How do I use the exemption?
It's easy. After you find a Montana-produced food item that meets your needs, simply buy it through your normal purchasing practices! Even if you are buying more than $5,000 worth of the food item, you will not need to put the item out to bid, as previously required by state law. If you want to ensure that you are providing fair opportunities among Montana food producers, you can create your own competitive purchasing process. This law is so new that no such model processes exist yet. Grow Montana can provide technical assistance to help you become a trendsetter!

What is Montana-produced food?
The legal definition of Montana-produced is food "planted, cultivated, grown, harvested, raised, collected, processed, or manufactured in Montana." Montana-produced meats, cheeses, vegetable oils, breads, and fruits and vegetables—from apples to zucchini—fit the bill. Already more than half a dozen schools and colleges statewide have successfully purchased and served tasty Montana-produced foods to appreciative eaters.

Will it cost more?
You are allowed to pay more for a Montana-produced food item, though the new law provides no additional funds for buying Montana-produced foods. Missoula County Public Schools found that buying local produce in season actually saved them a little money. Similarly, The University of Montana found that they could afford slightly more expensive Montana-produced meats by cutting costs in other areas. After four years of buying Montana-produced foods, UM's overall food costs decreased.

What resources can help me buy more Montana-produced food?
Montana's FoodCorps
FoodCorps is a team of five full-time AmeriCorps VISTA's who help schools and colleges buy Montana-produced food. They will happily share resources and technical assistance where possible. Contact the FoodCorps volunteer nearest you:

Grow Montana's Research
Grow Montana is a coalition working for a Montana-based food system. We have conducted two different in-depth studies on institutional food buying in Montana, both available on our Resources Page.

Unlocking the Food Buying Potential of Montana's Public Institutions: Towards a Montana-based Food Economy
Drs. Fraser Mcleay and Nicola Barron analyzed Montana's public institutional food service markets, and Montana's food and agricultural producers' capacity to serve those markets.

Tracing the Chain: An In-Depth Look at the University of Montana's Farm to College Program
Dr. Neva Hassanein, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, and 10 graduate students, looked at the social, economic, and transportation-related benefits and challenges associated with UM's Farm to College Program.

Food Safety
For more information about how food safety laws affect local food purchasing, contact Christine Cox, Registered Sanitarian, Retail Food Program Manager, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, (406) 444-2089, ccox@mt.gov.

www.farmtoschool.org
This website is a clearinghouse of resources and contacts for farm to school programs across the nation.