Local farmers on Saturday met with the food vendors, PSS- Food Nutrition Services nutritionist Hee Jae Lee and Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Services nutrition program team leader Patricia Coleman.
Cabrera said they want to expand the market of local farmers while providing students fresh produce.
He believes the government will be able to save money by patronizing local produce.
The farmers are already s preparing their crops to meet the demand once the new school year starts next month.
Thousand of pounds of local vegetables are expected to be delivered to food vendors every week.
“Farmers are going to face new challenges in meeting the demand in September,” Cabrera said.
During the meeting, he advised the farmers to expand the land area of their farms to give room for more crops.
He noted that farmers also need to cope with the federalization of local immigration and the annual increase in the minimum wage.
“The farmers, who need to employ foreign workers for their farms, will have difficulties once the federal government takes over immigration,” he said.
According to Cabrera, only a few local people would want to work on a farm.
Farmers, however, will need more manpower to meet the growing demand for their produce, he added.
Cabrera said local farmers have already formed teams that will help each other supply produce to the schools’ food vendors.
The farmers will also meet with government agencies and ask for support, he added.
Cabrera, Lee and Coleman will visit Tinian to meet with its farmer, PSS staff and food vendors.
The school system’s food providers include LSG Sky Chef, Barney’s Pizza and Pasta House, Herman’s Bakery, M.V Reyes Catering and Auntie Mac.
