Lincoln Local Food Challenge Grows to 50 Groups

Participation in the city's Mayor's Local Food Challenge more than doubled from last year, with organizations placing 1,331 orders for regionally produced food.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Organic Food

Lincoln Local Food Challenge Grows to 50 Groups

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Participation in Lincoln's second annual Mayor's Local Food Challenge rose from 21 organizations last year to 50 this year. Participating organizations spent more than $694,000 on food grown and produced within 250 miles of the city.

Why it matters

Lincoln imports about 90% of the food it consumes, so the challenge aims to keep more food dollars in the local economy by connecting regional producers with buyers. City leaders hope to build on this momentum in future years.

The challenge ran July 1 through Oct. 31 and recognized participants at different commitment levels based on the number of local food orders placed. Purchases supported 70 regional farmers and suppliers, though the city's full-year local food spending total was not reported.

The players

Open Harvest Co-op Grocery

Open Harvest is a Lincoln cooperative grocery store that hosted the announcement of the challenge results.

Hy-Vee

Hy-Vee is a Midwest supermarket chain with stores across Nebraska that participated in the challenge.

Nebraska Department of Education

The Nebraska Department of Education oversees public schools statewide and is developing a similar local food initiative inspired by Lincoln's program.

The details

Restaurants, grocery stores, hospitals and nonprofits joined the challenge, including Open Harvest, Hy-Vee, Bryan Health, CHI Health St. Elizabeth and several local restaurants. The city says the program inspired a similar statewide initiative through the Nebraska Department of Education.

July 1 through Oct. 31: Challenge runs and participants place orders.
Monday, Nov. 9: Mayor announces results at Open Harvest Co-op.

Culture Shift

Lincoln's Mayor's Local Food Challenge, now in its second year, reflects a growing local-sourcing push among institutions that previously relied on imported food. The statewide initiative inspired by it shows the model spreading beyond the city.

Lincoln residents can look for locally grown food at participating grocery stores and restaurants that took part in the challenge. Shoppers who want to support regional producers can ask participating retailers which items come from within 250 miles of the city.

The takeaway

Buying local food keeps money circulating among regional farmers and suppliers, not just distributors outside the area. Consumers and organizations alike can ask where their food comes from to support that shift.