Procurement
Procurement is one of the most complex processes within food service departments. When a school meal program shifts from a heat and serve operation to a scratch operation, many business practices and internal department processes will also change. At CAF, refer to this shift from heat and serve operations to scratch cook operations, the scratch cook continuum. Districts find themselves at various points along this continuous but steady change to achieve scratch cooking along this continuum. A solid vision, strong goals, and a well-defined procurement strategy must guide the purchase and use of sustainable ingredients.
For School Food Authorities (SFA) further along the continuum and with a basic understanding of conducting values-aligned procurement, CAF has developed a step-by-step framework. Click here to skip to that section.
For SFAs with minimal experience who are just getting started with values-aligned procurements, review the background information on these web pages before diving into the step-by-step framework.
Getting Started
Embarking upon the scratch cook continuum can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially in the procurement process. There is no right or wrong entry point, but the crucial first step is to set yourself up for success by establishing fundamental business practices to give this work meaning and focus.
Getting Started
Embarking upon the scratch cook continuum can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially in the procurement process. There is no right or wrong entry point, but the crucial first step is to set yourself up for success by establishing fundamental business practices to give this work meaning and focus.
The K-12 Food System
Understanding the school food supply chain and establishing relationships with suppliers is critical to a successful procurement process. Being an informed buyer is the key to supporting your values-aligned procurement goals.
The K-12 Food System
Understanding the school food supply chain and establishing relationships with suppliers is critical to a successful procurement process. Being an informed buyer is the key to supporting your values-aligned procurement goals.
Values-Aligned Procurement
Values-Aligned Procurement (VAP) is a practice in which an SFA’s procurement decisions are guided by its core values, which promote broader social and environmental good, such as environmental sustainability, animal welfare, fair labor practices, supply chain transparency, and racial justice.
Values-Aligned Procurement
Values-Aligned Procurement (VAP) is a practice in which an SFA’s procurement decisions are guided by its core values, which promote broader social and environmental good, such as environmental sustainability, animal welfare, fair labor practices, supply chain transparency, and racial justice.
Examples of Values-Aligned Procurement
Values-Aligned Procurement is a process that is unique to your district’s specific needs, structure, vision, and overall goals. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, but it may be helpful to understand different strategies being implemented in schools across the nation.
Examples of Values-Aligned Procurement
Values-Aligned Procurement is a process that is unique to your district’s specific needs, structure, vision, and overall goals. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, but it may be helpful to understand different strategies being implemented in schools across the nation.
Tools & Resources
You can find all the tools and resources from this section here, in one convenient place.
Tools & Resources
You can find all the tools and resources from this section here, in one convenient place.
