Appendix X Responses to NASS Comments

APPENDIX X.

RESPONSES TO NASS COMMENTS

In reference to the comments about the distributor interview, FNS has edited Part A. In Table A-1, one can read that only large-scale distributors will be recruited for this survey and will be accurately described as such when reported.

Furthermore, the section on data collection activities includes the following:

The Distributor Interview (Appendix C) will allow the study team to obtain the perspectives of large-scale food distributors on the processes and challenges to local food purchasing and procurement. The 60 minute interview will be conducted via phone and the majority of the interview will gather qualitative information on the procurement process, as well as some quantitative questions on the volume and cost of local foods. The interview will be completed once in early 2019 over the phone by an experienced in-depth interviewer. Distributor participation will be voluntary. These interviews will be exploratory and will help address whether a larger survey is practicable and desirable by FNS.