New initiatives make local purchasing easier for schools while supporting Massachusetts agriculture, food manufacturers, and students

ONTARIO, Calif., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Food Distribution Program and Gold Star Foods today announced the launch of two new Massachusetts Local Food initiatives that will bring locally sourced and locally produced products to school meal programs across the Commonwealth.

The programs, available to participating schools beginning this October, represent an innovative approach to local procurement by simplifying purchasing and distribution on behalf of school districts while creating new market opportunities for Massachusetts farmers and food manufacturers.

Through the Massachusetts DESE Food Distribution Program, the state coordinated procurement and distribution services, helping schools access local products through a streamlined process that reduces administrative burden while strengthening connections between schools and Massachusetts food producers.

“Massachusetts is committed to creating innovative solutions that increase access to local foods in our school meal programs,” said Lucinda Ward, USDA Foods Distribution Coordinator, MA DESE “By coordinating procurement and distribution services at the state level, we are making it easier for schools to purchase local products while creating meaningful opportunities for Massachusetts businesses and agricultural producers.”

Bringing Massachusetts Agriculture to School Cafeterias
The first initiative features Ocean Spray^® Craisins^® produced from cranberries harvested in Massachusetts. The program connects one of the Commonwealth’s most iconic agricultural products directly to school meal programs, giving students an opportunity to enjoy foods sourced from their own state.

The second initiative partners with a Massachusetts-based manufacturer Commonwealth Kitchen to transform USDA Direct Delivery diced tomatoes into value-added products specifically designed for school meal programs. The program will offer both Marinara Sauce and Tikka Masala Sauce, creating new menu options for schools while adding value to USDA Foods through local processing.

Together, these initiatives demonstrate how strategic partnerships can connect local agriculture, food manufacturing, distribution, and school nutrition programs in ways that benefit all stakeholders.

A New Model for Local Procurement
While school districts often cite procurement requirements, limited purchasing capacity, and supply chain challenges as barriers to local purchasing, the Massachusetts model addresses these challenges by leveraging the state’s Food Distribution Program to coordinate sourcing, procurement, and distribution activities.

This approach creates a seamless supply chain that:

• Increases access to local foods for schools
• Reduces administrative and procurement burdens on districts
• Supports Massachusetts farmers and food manufacturers
• Creates reliable demand for local businesses
• Expands menu opportunities for school nutrition programs
• Provides students with greater access to locally sourced foods

“Successful local procurement requires collaboration across the entire supply chain,” said Stephanie Ewing, Chief Governmental Officer for Gold Star Foods. “Massachusetts has developed a practical and scalable approach that connects schools, state agencies, manufacturers, distributors, and agricultural producers. The result is a program that makes local purchasing easier for schools while delivering meaningful economic benefits to Massachusetts businesses.”

Building Stronger Connections Between Schools and Local Food Systems
The new programs align with Massachusetts’ ongoing commitment to supporting local agriculture and strengthening farm-to-school initiatives throughout the Commonwealth.

By creating efficient pathways for local products to reach school cafeterias, the initiative demonstrates how public-private partnerships can help schools serve high-quality meals while supporting local economies and increasing student access to foods grown and produced close to home.

The Massachusetts DESE Food Distribution Program and Gold Star Foods anticipate continued collaboration with local suppliers and school nutrition professionals to identify additional opportunities for expanding local sourcing initiatives in the future.

For more information on Gold Star Foods, please visit www.GoldStarFoods.com.

Media Contacts
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Jason Law
Jason.law@mass.gov
617-895-6556

Gold Star Foods
Stephanie Ewing
Chief Governmental Officer
sewing@gsfoodsgroup.com
530-295-7055

About the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Food Distribution Program
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Food Distribution Program supports school nutrition programs throughout the Commonwealth by administering USDA Foods and providing resources that help schools serve nutritious meals to students.

About Gold Star Foods
Gold Star Foods is a leading provider of food distribution and supply chain solutions serving school nutrition programs across the United States. Through partnerships with state agencies, school districts, manufacturers, and agricultural producers, Gold Star Foods helps connect schools with innovative, high-quality food solutions that support student success.

About Highview Capital, LLC
Highview Capital, LLC is a global private equity investment vehicle backed by a multi-billion dollar family office. The fund employs a flexible mandate and takes a long-term perspective on middle-market businesses at an inflection point. Since 2017, Highview has deployed equity capital across more than 40 deals in industries such as business services, manufacturing, and distribution. Highview takes pride in our ability to partner closely with founders and management teams over the long term. For more information, visit www.highviewcapital.com.

About A&M Capital
A&M Capital is a multi-strategy private equity investment firm with over $6.0 billion in total commitments across its funds, vehicles and accounts. The firm is led by a highly experienced investment team, which is augmented by a strategic association with A&M Consulting, a leading global operationally focused advisory firm.

A&M Capital Partners is A&M Capital’s investment strategy focused on middle-market control transactions in North America, with total commitments of over $4.0 billion across three funds. AMCP partners with founders, families, corporates, and management teams, providing the capital and strategic and operational assistance that it believes are required to take businesses to the next level of success. AMCP invests across a range of sectors, including Business Services, Healthcare Services, Government Services, Industrial Services, Financial Services, Packaging & Distribution Services, and more. For more information, visit www.a-mcapital.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/massachusetts-dese-and-gold-star-foods-launch-innovative-local-food-programs-connecting-schools-with-massachusetts-grown-and-massachusetts-made-products-302912834.html

SOURCE Gold Star Foods