Nourish colorado will develop baseline local procurement data and metrics alongside a model for collaborative purchasing specifically targeting farmers ranchers processors and other stakeholders…

Nourish colorado will develop baseline local procurement data and metrics alongside a model for collaborative purchasing specifically targeting farmers ranchers processors and other stakeholders within the region. This project will foster increased cooperation among institutions including K12 school lunch programs early childhood education meal programs and older adult meal programs alongside food hubs to enhance their capacity and networks. Strategic partnerships will be established with ogallala commons to support connections with regional producers and with colorado state universitys food systems institute for engagement to facilitate evaluation and ongoing support. Nourish colorado will manage the overall project coordinating annual convenings one to two in total to discuss initial goals data collection and subsequent actions. The anticipated outcome is a more robust and resilient local food system allowing for increased local procurement of food products. The beneficiaries of this project include the farmers and ranchers supplying these food products the institutions distributing them and the consumers receiving the meals. This project will build a replicable model that can be extended to other regions of colorado.