Buy Local Program

CT Fresh Ed: Buy Local Program

The CT Fresh Ed: Buy Local Program provides funding to eligible USDA Child Nutrition Program sponsors to support the purchase of locally and regionally sourced unprocessed and minimally processed foods, strengthening local agriculture while supporting nutritious meals statewide.

• Operational Memorandum No. 2-26: CT Fresh Ed: Buy Local Program
• CT Fresh Ed: Buy Local Program Questions and Answers
• CT Fresh Ed: Buy Local Program School Year 2025-26 Allocations for Eligible School Food Authorities

Application for NSLP and SBP Sponsors
School Year 2025-26

The CSDE is accepting applications for the CT Fresh Ed: Buy Local Program from eligible National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) sponsors. Sponsors must complete the CT Fresh Ed: Buy Local Program application to participate for school year 2025-26. 

• CT Fresh Ed: Buy Local Program application

Approved Sponsors for Buy Local Program
School Year 2025-26

• List of CT Fresh Ed: Buy Local Program Sponsors
  As of March 30, 2026

Payment Request Form  

Payment requests must be submitted using the CT Fresh Ed: Buy Local Program Payment Request Form.

• CT Fresh Ed: Buy Local Program Payment Request Form

Local and Regional Food Tracker

The CSDE’s CT Fresh Ed: Local and Regional Food Tracker Excel spreadsheet assists sponsors in tracking local and regional purchases, monitoring invoices submitted for the CT Fresh Ed: Buy Local Program, managing forward contracts, and overall tracking of purchases for completing Sections 1 and 2 of the CT Fresh Ed: Compass.

• Instructions for the CT Fresh Ed: Local and Regional Food Tracker
• CT Fresh Ed: Local and Regional Food Tracker