Locating and purchasing local food will become easier for North Country grocers, restaurants, schools and institutions when a new ordering platform goes online.

The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) has been awarded a $10,000 grant through Adirondack Foundation’s Generous Acts Program to help develop and promote a web-based ordering system that will more easily connect wholesale buyers with locally grown and processed foods such as vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy and value-added products.

Since 2016, ANCA has been working to improve the North Country region’s farm-to-school value chain, connecting farmers with school districts and providing over 28,000 children locally grown food at school.

The new ordering system will allow buyers including schools, grocers, corner stores, restaurants and hospitals to locate and order from multiple farm and food producer sources through one online platform. The technology will aggregate and automate orders for farmers, food suppliers and food hubs, boosting local food sales and, in turn, supporting greater viability for the region’s farms and food businesses.

Photo of Middle school students at HT Wiley Intermediate School in Watertown provided by ANCA.