Local food purchasing (or procurement) is one of the core elements of farm to early care and education (ECE). Local purchasing connects children, their families, and providers to local food and local food producers, allows for access to healthy foods and food-based activities, while supporting local economies. This compilation of local food purchasing resources is intended for use by state and local agencies, technical assistant providers, support organizations, ECE providers and other stakeholders to identify appropriate tools and resources to increase awareness of and capacity for local food purchasing and to support the advancement of farm to ECE. Use the listing criteria and the tips below to navigate the "Farm to Early Care and Education Local Food Purchasing Resources" spreadsheet and find resources to meet the needs of diverse types and sizes of ECE sites and diverse levels of knowledge and experience in local purchasing.  

• Fact Sheets and Infographics:  Features purchasing practices and tips for getting started.
• Toolkits, Manuals and Guides:  Clarifies procurement requirements and guidance on how programs can increase the amount of local foods purchased and used for ECE programs.
• Training and Webinars: Offers advice on how to choose the right procurement option for centers and information on federal and state procurement regulations.
• Case Studies and Reports: Examines the growing movement to bring healthy food to children, highlighting best practices and examples from other states and nationally. 

Each resource listing includes resource name, authoring organization, year created, key words, region and description.