Mayor Invites Organizations to Join Local Food Challenge
Published on May 22, 2025
New program will help businesses connect with nearby food producers
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird today announced a program that challenges Lincoln organizations to source food from local producers. The Mayor’s Local Food Challenge runs from July 1 through October 31 and will celebrate businesses, schools, restaurants and others that meet food sourcing commitment levels.
“Sourcing food locally boosts our economy, strengthens the supply chain, and delivers fresh, healthy options to our neighbors,” Mayor Gaylor Baird said. “It also builds on our proud Nebraska traditions of knowing where our food comes from, appreciating those who worked hard to get it to our table, and respecting its value to our families and the broader community.”
Kim Morrow, Chief Sustainability Officer, said that for this challenge, the City will work with Lone Tree Foods of Lincoln and Robinette Farms of Martell to connect challenge participants with high-quality food grown within a 250-mile radius of Lincoln.
At the end of the challenge, participants will be recognized and celebrated for their commitment to sourcing local food, Morrow said. The commitment levels are based on the number of local food orders placed during the 18-week program:
- Platinum – 18 orders
- Gold – 17 to 13 orders
- Silver – 12 to 7 orders
- Bronze – 6 to 2 orders
Methods organizations can participate in the challenge include:
- Workplace Wellness and Food Programming
Employees can pick up local food subscription boxes at their workplaces.
- Wholesale to Employee Cafeteria/Special Events
Accounts can be created to begin regular delivery of local food to cafeterias or special events.
Those in the food service industry may shop online, or receive emails, texts, or calls from sales teams.
Schools may use resources like the Harvest of the Month curriculum or highlight a local producer each month to incorporate local food into school meals.
Collaborative producer networks can build a custom solution tailored to an institution’s needs and goals.
Morrow said increased access to fresh, nutritious food improves public health, leading to healthier communities.
“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,” Morrow said.
Nazim Khan, Executive Chef at Bryan Medical Center, and Rachel McGill, Chef and owner of Dish Restaurant, spoke at the event to share their experiences with sourcing local ingredients. Representatives from Hudl, Assurity, Telesis, The Landing, Duncan Aviation, UNL, and Kawasaki also attended to celebrate the launch of the program and learn more about the opportunity. Bread and Butter Catering provided a menu of appetizers made from locally sourced food donated by Robinette Farms and lone Tree Foods.
For more information or to register for the Mayor’s Local Food Challenge, visit lincoln.ne.gov/foodchallenge.