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Procuring Local, Sustainable Foods – Direct from the Farmer. Bringing green to your kitchen. Where do you begin?. Identify what type of food you want to purchase - Vegetables, Fruits, Meats. How will the foods fit into your current menu?
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Procuring Local, Sustainable Foods– Direct from the Farmer Bringing green to your kitchen.
Where do you begin? • Identify what type of food you want to purchase - Vegetables, Fruits, Meats. • How will the foods fit into your current menu? • Are the foods available year round or seasonally? • How do you locate a supplier?
Locating a supplier • Local farmers markets, farm stands, farms • Buyer-Grower Meetings - Jan – Feb 2009 • Maryland's Best, www.marylandsbest.net • Local Harvest, www.localharvest.org • MD H2E, www.mdh2e.org • Health Care Without Harm, www.healthyfoodinhealthcare.org • County Agriculture / Economic Development Offices • County Extension Offices, www.extension.umd.edu • Word of Mouth • Speak with your current supplier • Stop by the Local Foods Table at this conference
How to select a supplier • Farming practices - organic, sustainable, rBGH-free, without routine use of antibiotics or arsenic, grass-fed • Visit the farm, view the operation first hand • Do they do business with any other hospitals, nursing homes or restaurants? Get references
Some questions to ask • Is the farmer insured? • Is the processing facility USDA inspected? • How are orders placed? • Will the farmer deliver? What is the schedule? • Is the delivery vehicle refrigerated and sanitary? • Will the farmer fit within your HACCP guidelines? • What will the payment terms be?
How to get the word out • Interoffice electronic mailing • Develop a “Local List” and display it prominently in the servery • Feature recipes utilizing the local ingredients and make them available • Incorporate the name of the farm that grew the ingredient in the description of the dish. i.e. Baked macaroni and cheese with Martins Farm stewed tomatoes • Contact your PR department • Participate in the 2009 Buy Local Challenge
Buyer-Grower Meetings January 29, 2009 MD Dept. of Agriculture Annapolis, MD www.marylandsbest.net Baltimore & Easton Dates & Locations pending www.mdh2e.org
As heath care providers, we are all responsible for doing our part to provide nourishing food in an environmentally sound manner. We can achieve this if we all work together. In Conclusion
www.organic.org www.organicauthority.com www.greenchronicle.com www.freshfarmmarkets.org/market_recipes.php Recipe Sources