Appendix G Distributor Interview Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

APPENDIX G

Distributor Interview Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

OMB Number: 0584-XXXX Expiration Date: xx/xx/20xx

What is the purpose of the Distributor Interview?

This interview will obtain the perspectives of 20 food distributors of different types and sizes

across FNS regions, detailing the processes, challenges, and economic scope and impacts of

local food purchases. The information collected during the interviews will give a better

understanding of distributors’ practices and whether or not farm to school has influenced

distributors’ practices and operations. This research will help identify the key functions

distributors play in farm to school, so that best practices can be identified and better support

and resources to enhance farm to school efforts can be provided.

When will the Distributor Interviews be conducted?

The Distributor Interview will be conducted in Winter/Spring 2019.

How long will the Distributor Interview take?

The Distributor Interview will take approximately 60 minutes.

How were distributors selected to participate in the Distributor Interview?

Distributors were recommended by FNS and selected by farm to school experts who were part of the study’s advisory panel.

I am a distributor. What do you need me to do for this study?

Please participate in a telephone interview about the volume and cost of local foods purchased and procured. You may need to consult with your colleagues ahead of the interview, as some questions will pertain to contracting.

Why should I participate in the Distributor Interview?

This is the first time FNS will collect farm to school data from distributors. Only 20 distributors across the country have been asked to participate. Your participation will help us understand the farm to school process from the distributor side, and contribute to ground breaking formative research!

Will this information be made public?

Data collected during the interviews will not be publicly available, though findings might be reported in an aggregate manner in our comprehensive report on farm to school.

Who can I contact for more information?

Maria Boyle Ashley Chaifetz
Project Director, Farm to School Census and Comprehensive Review Project Officer, Farm to School Census and Comprehensive Review
Abt Associates FNS/USDA
866-778-1316 703-457-7741
[email protected] [email protected]

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0584-XXXX. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 15 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, Office of Policy Support, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22302, ATTN: PRA (0584-xxxx). Do not return the completed form to this address