2025 Mayor's Local Food Challenge

The Mayor's Community Committee on Local Food is thrilled to launch the 2025 Mayor's Local Food Challenge. This event invites Lincoln's businesses, schools, institutions, restaurants, and other organizations to take an active role in strengthening our local food system. By sourcing food locally, participants help reduce food insecurity, boost the local economy, and protect the environment - all while enjoying fresh, high-quality food.

The challenge supports the goals outlined in the Local Food System Plan, which is designed to build a thriving, resilient food network for our community. From July 1 to October 31, organizations can participate at different commitment levels - Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum - based on the number of local food orders placed throughout the 18 weeks.

At the end of the challenge, participants will be recognized and celebrated for their commitment to strengthening our local food system.

Commitment Levels

Overview of Program Options

Workplace Wellness and Food Programming

Offer employees the option to pick up local food subscription boxes right at their workplace—an easy way to promote health and support local farmers.

Wholesale to Employee Cafeteria/Special Events

Create an account to shop for local food for regular delivery to your cafeteria or special events.

Wholesale to Restaurants

Order online, or receive emails, texts, or calls from our sales teams. We are here to help you source the freshest ingredients.

Farm to School

Bring local food into your school meals—no matter the size of your program. Use resources like the Harvest of the Month curriculum or highlight a local producer each month. We'll help you create a plan that fits your school.

Custom

Have a creative idea to incorporate more local food into your institution? With our collaborative producer networks, we can build a custom solution tailored to your goals.

Register to Participate in the Challenge

If your organization is interested in participating or learning more, please complete the registration form. A representative from the Mayor's Local Food Challenge will contact you afterward to help you get started.

Why Choose Local?

Supporting local food strengthens our community, economy, and environment. Local food is fresher, tastier, and helps businesses and institutions connect with regional farmers. Buying local keeps money in our community, creating jobs and boosting the local economy. It also reduces transportation emissions while promoting sustainable agriculture. Access to fresh, nutritious food improves public health, leading to healthier communities. By choosing local, your organization plays a vital role in building a stronger, more resilient food system for Lincoln.

Sourcing Local: Meet Our Food Partners

The Mayor's Local Food Challenge makes it easy for organizations to source fresh, local food by partnering with trusted food aggregators—organizations that work directly with small farms to combine products and distribute them efficiently.

For this challenge, we're working with Lone Tree Foods and Robinette Farms, two local food hubs that connect businesses, schools, and institutions with high-quality food grown within a 250-mile radius of Lincoln. By purchasing from these aggregators, you're strengthening an entire network of local producers.