WORKPLACE FOOD AND ACTIVITY ENVIRONMENT
ENACT Strategy: Farm to Institution
Institute a farm-to-institution program to incorporate fresh local produce into cafeteria meals
As more and more worksites focus on offering healthier food to employees, many employers are recognizing the value of procuring local and sustainably produced food, when possible. Many worksites are instituting farm-to-institution programs where local produce, dairy, meat and poultry, and other food items are sourced from local small and mid-sized farmers. The health advantages of a farm-to-institution go beyond nutritional benefits. Farm-to-institution programs increase employee access to foods produced without pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics. Additionally, procuring food locally helps to protect air quality (as food does not have as far to travel from farm to plate) and benefits the local economy by supporting local agriculture.
This FAQ produced by World Hunger Year, gives an overview and summary of the elements and benefits of Farm to Cafeteria projects.
Serving Local Food at Your Meeting (PDF)
This quick and easy pamphlet provided by the Society for Nutrition Education explains why and how to bring local produce to your meetings and conferences.
Google has made the commitment to sustainability in their workplace practices. They offer local sustainable cafeteria food to their employees for lunch and dinner meals.
Fruitful Office isz a United Kingdom company that offers fresh fruit delivery to worksites. The company is committed to sourcing fruit predominantly from from the UK and Western Europe to help support UK producers and minimize fuel emissions from long-haul transportation. They also practice other eco-friendly practices in terms of packaging and transportation.
The Fruit Guys is a worksite fruit delivery company servicing worksites in the U.S. They offer both conventionally grown and organic produce and aim to provide seasonal items when possible. The Fruit Guys packs both their organic and conventionally grown fruit in earth friendly crates that can be recycled or reused.
Bringing Local Food to Local Institutions
This resource guide provides farmers and institutional food-service planners with the benefits and constraints of Farm to Cafeteria programs, steps for implementation, and descriptions of existing programs.
This comprehensive resource provided by World Hunger Year provides information on background information, challenges, successes of farm to cafeteria programs.
Woodbury, IA Local Food Purchase Policy
The Local Food Policy for Woodbury County requires the County to purchase locally grown organic food, through its food service contractor, when County departments serve food in their usual course of business.
San Francisco Department of Public Health (PDF)
This policy adopted by the San Francisco Department of public health articulates that food purchased for SFDPH events should make an effort to be local and organic.
in the ENACT Local Policy Database
Bon Appétit Management Company
Bon Appétit Management Company is an onsite custom restaurant company that provides café and catering services to corporations, colleges and universities, and specialty venues.. Bon Appétit’s Farm to Fork initiative demonstrates a commitment to purchase and serve locally-grown products. The first choice is to purchase seasonal, regional and organic produce from local farmers and artisan producers within a 150-mile radius.
Sustainable Food Policy Project
The Sustainable Food Policy Project was initiated in 2006 to support efforts by educational, healthcare and other institutions to have a positive impact on the food system through purchasing.
Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)
CAFF’s Growers Collaborative acts as a middleman for institutions who want to purchase locally. The Growers Collaborative sells local fruits and vegetables from family farms to public and private grade schools, colleges, hospitals, and corporate cafeterias.
