The Supplier shall be the primary source for fresh produce items and services as listed herein as well as for comparable substitutes. The district may have the opportunity to take advantage of special purchases/deliveries from other sources such as the Department of Defense (DOD) produce program or locally grown produce. Section 9 (j) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(j)) is amended to encourage schools to purchase locally produced foods, to the maximum extent practicable and appropriate. The law allows schools to use geographical preference for the procurement of locally produced foods. This agreement does not prohibit the district from making such purchases. These purchases may be made by school or district wide. Bidders are STRONGLY encouraged to enter into purchase agreements with local producers and supply those local products on the school nutrition bid. Local farm requirements include: 1. Local farms shall grow food with no detectable pesticide residues on/in final food products. 2. Local farms shall not pre-treat, wash, or clean raw or lightly processed foods with toxic detergents or cleansing agents such as bleach, ammonium, or others not listed here. 3. Local farms must be willing and capable of work with or delivering directly to Mufreesboro City Schools contracted produce Supplier. They must be willing to meet basic variety, grading, and packing standards of the contracted produce Supplier.
