Glossary

Intermediaries in the food supply chain that compile food from vendors and farms, and distribute it to buyers.

Persons or entities, including farmers, ranchers, loggers, agricultural harvesters, and fishermen, that engage in the production or harvesting of an agricultural product.

Interweaving of multiple funding streams toward a shared project or initiative.

Intermediaries in the food supply chain that collect, package, and distribute food to buyers.

Local and regional food aggregators and distributors that often serve as a bridge for small-scale farmers and other vendors to sell into institutional markets. Food hubs can be for-profit or non-profit and may provide storage, processing, or marketing services to vendors.

Standards and practices that govern and inform institution-wide procurement. Language written in food purchasing guidelines can be included in solicitations, contracts, and other food procurement documents.

A commercial enterprise or non-profit organization that manages part or all of an institution's food service operations.

A purchasing commitment that involves collaborative planning between a vendor and an institution, often with the institution agreeing to purchase products in advance of production cycles.

A procurement network that aggregates institutional purchasing to negotiate discounts with vendors.

Also called "sealed bids," IFBs are a type of formal solicitation that requires an institution to select a bid based solely on cost.

Data measured against a stated goal.

Procurement purchases that are below the "micro-purchase threshold" allow institutions to select a vendor without a formal solicitation process. At the federal level, the micro-purchase threshold is currently $10,000. Individual states may have laws that impose a stricter micro-purchase threshold.

An agreement between parties that indicates a moral commitment and serious intentions, but is not legally binding.

An institution that does not receive government funding for their food procurement and is not otherwise affiliated with the local, state, or federal government.

An entity that transforms raw agricultural ingredients into refined, specialized, or preserved products.

“Producers” is used as an umbrella term to include farmers, growers, ranchers, product makers, and others contributing products in values-based procurement. This Toolkit uses the term “producer” to refer to entities whom an institution may purchase from directly or through an aggregator or distributor.