The Chicago Public Schools Want ‘em!
Family Farmed.org is partnering with Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality, the major food service provider for the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), to ask Midwestern farmers to contract for $2,300,000 of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. “The commitment of Chartwells and CPS to purchase fresh and frozen local food is a model for the nation,” said Jim Slama, president of FamilyFarmed.org. “This will continue to support regional family farmers, provide significant levels of economic development in rural communities as well as put healthy food on the plates of Chicago school children.” In order to reduce pesticide residues, the RFI includes a preference for farms that use Integrated Pest Management Techniques and for produce grown without organophosphate pesticides.
