If you have some experience with local procurement, and want to talk about scaling up, making local “the norm,” and taking on complex, new local procurement projects, then this is the session for you! We’ll talk about some of the trends, best practices, and considerations when taking local procurement to the next level. Some of the topics we’ll discuss include the formal procurement method to buy local, working with intermediaries such as food hubs, “forward contracting,” and cooperative purchasing. Bring your tough local procurement questions and big ideas to this conversation! This session is not just for Child Nutrition staff but also for nonprofit organizations, producers, State agencies, or other organizations looking to advance local procurement in your communities.