The Common Market

Strengthening Farm-to-School Partnerships in NJ! 🍎🚜 Last week, our Mid-Atlantic team visited a Camden City Schools' farmers market alongside NJ Secretary of Agriculture, Edward Wengryn, and NJDA Food and Nutrition Division Director, Rose Chamberlain, to honor Farm to School in the Garden State. $1 million in USDA Local Food for Schools (LFS) is still available through November for New Jersey schools. These leaders shared that schools and farmers are encouraged to continue using LFS dollars to bring fresh, local food into school meals. As we look ahead, The Common Market is committed to helping area farmers connect with schools and strengthening these connections because collaboration is the key to a resilient local food system. #NJFarmToSchool #FarmToSchool #NewJerseyAgriculture | Warren DeShields, SNS | Arlethia Brown, MBA, CPFM | New Jersey Department of Agriculture

A big congratulations to Chef Jason Hilgers from Northwestern Dining and Chef Bruno Bell Alves from the University of Chicago, who placed in the culinary challenge at NACUFS 2025 Spring Conference in Duluth. 👏 We are proud to serve both Universities through Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services and to support the sustainability and culinary goals across the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Texas. #BreakingBarriers

Spent this week on the shore of Lake Superior in Duluth with our friends at the NACUFS Regional Spring Conference. Congrats to Chef Jason Hilgers (Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services Northwestern University) on his win in the Culinary Challenge, and thanks to our many friends at University of Chicago, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Notre Dame and many more for sharing your insights and experiences.

Last week Mid-Atlantic Executive Director, Warren DeShields, SNS, joined the conversation at the School Nutrition Association of Pennsylvania's Director's Conference. Thank you for having us - and here's to more school food connections! #PAFarmtoSchool

What an honor to be part of this project to highlight the benefits of working with the ACRE Collective & The Common Market to increase local fresh foods for our students! Marietta City Schools #MCSNutrition

For many small farmers, securing a reliable buyer before the growing season starts is a game-changer. Forward commitments and agreements between institutions and local producers help farmers plan, invest, and allow their businesses to grow. In return, institutions build relationships with growers and receive high-quality, locally grown food, creating a win-win for communities and the food system. 📖 Our latest case study explores how this model, implemented in The Common Market Southeast, is transforming local food procurement. Find the link to the newest case study in the comments below.

For many small farmers, securing a reliable buyer before the growing season starts is a game-changer. Forward commitments and agreements between institutions and local producers help farmers plan, invest, and allow their businesses to grow. In return, institutions build relationships with growers and receive high-quality, locally grown food, creating a win-win for communities and the food system. 📖 Our latest case study explores how this model, implemented in The Common Market Southeast, is transforming local food procurement. Find the link to the newest case study in the comments below.

🌱 "The regional food system is essential to thriving communities." Southeast Board member Wesley E. Myrick shares what inspires him about The Common Market’s work-connecting local farmers with the institutions that nourish our communities. Through strong partnerships, we’re building a more resilient, equitable food system for generations to come. #FoodEquity #SustainableAgriculture #FarmtoInstitution

📢 New Case Study! The Georgia ACRE Collective and The Common Market Southeast released their latest case study, "Building Resilient Agriculture through Forward Purchasing Commitments and Direct Farmer Investments," which highlights the transformative power of institutional markets and financial support for local farmers. 🔍 Discover how forward purchasing commitments have empowered farmers to scale their operations, enhanced institutional food procurement, and strengthened regional food systems. 🌟 Learn from the success stories of producers like Coastal Georgia Small Farmers Cooperative, where infrastructure grants and technical assistance drove growth and sustainability. 📖 Read the full case study and join us in advancing resilient and equitable food systems (link in the comments below.) Emily Hennessee | Bill Green | Krisztian Varsa | Suzanne G. | Georgia Organics | Health Care Without Harm | The Conservation Fund | Emory University School of Law | The Rockefeller Foundation | Alliance for a Healthier Generation | Georgia Grown Innovation Center

Thank you NACUFS! We had a blast at the Spring Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC! We brought the farmer, the institution, and the distributor to the table to discuss how values-based purchasing and forward commitments shape a more sustainable food system. Colin Andersen & Bill Green represented The Common Market alongside Ryan Pressley, Farms 2 U, and Chef Pritchard from Aramark Collegiate Hospitality at Clemson University. Thank you to everyone who engaged in the conversation and chatted with our team about ways to elevate campus dining with local! Plus: Big kudos to Emily Getz with Housing and Food Services at Penn State Harrisburg for winning first place in the Culinary Challenge and all the regional chefs for your creativity! #BreakingBarriers #campusdining #localprocurement