Overcoming the “Game of Pennies:” Challenges and Opportunities for Farm to Institution in Vermont

Abstract

Farm-to-Institution (FTI) programs that promote local food purchases in institutional foodservice have spread throughout the United States over the past two decades, yet broadline distributors still dominate institutional supply chains, and many obstacles remain to increasing local institutional procurement. This study investigates successful practices and limitations to FTI in Vermont and explores approaches to overcoming barriers. We interviewed 13 FTI supply chain actors and identified several best practices and many challenges, the most frustrating of which were price, disingenuous behavior, and regulatory burden. Interviewees identified policy subsidizing local food purchases as a major tool for overcoming these barriers.