February 17, 2001 drafted by Adriane Dellorco

What CDS Wants in the Long Term

They can take huge quantities of tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic, corn, lettuce, peppers, fruit, etc. They don’t really too many obscure or not student-friendly vegetables like beets, kale, okra, etc.

CDS feeds approx. 2000 students a day. They can almost take whatever any small grower can give them, and it would barely make a dent.

CDS is not willing to purchase locally in the summer (unless local foods are priced very competitively), which is the prime harvesting season. Thus, any way growers can extend their season to harvest in September (when school starts), the better.

CDS would prefer that growers specialize in a crop that they intend to sell to them. This not only makes it easier for them to keep track of everything, but it also ensures large quantities of high quality produce because growers will produce their best crop. It will also serve to eliminate competition among growers.

What CDS Wants in the Short Term

CDS would like a general list of what each grower can sell to CDS, approximately what months each crop would be available, and prices.

Bumper crops. CDS is likely to change management hands this summer, which will change a lot of things, but will hopefully make the prospect for buying locally easier. However, due to this uncertainty, for the coming Fall 2001, do not go out of your way to produce more to sell to CDS. CDS cannot guarantee a market just yet, but there is a large possibility that they can buy extra produce that you want to sell.

What’s in it for the Growers

A huge market that can most likely purchase large quantities of your surplus crops (as long as the crops are what CDS usually purchases).

An eventual (we hope) guaranteed market that can buy a huge volume of what you can grow.

Flexible delivery schedules.

The opportunity to feed students healthy, fresh, and tasty local food that they will appreciate far more than canned and frozen scalloped carrots!

General Set-up for Selling to CDS

All growers must pass a $150 safety inspection by the Ohio Dept. of Agriculture. If the grower is certified organic, they do not need to have this safety inspection. This inspection is not too stringent. There is a possibility that Sodhexo Marriott might do an inspection, as well.

Growers give CDS at least 2 weeks advanced notice of what they can sell to CDS.

OSAP will buy from the growers and sell their goods to CDS. OSAP receives a 20% distributor fee of all sales.

Growers deliver to CDS. CDS is generally very flexible about delivery times because they receive deliveries constantly.