Sustainable Food Systems, LLC

Developing a Sustainable Food Purchasing Policy

A Food Service Operator’s World

John TurenneSustainable Food Systems

Bridging Borders Toward Food Security October 10, 2006

Sustainable Food Systems, LLC

Sustainable Food Systems, LLC

What am I going to share with you?

• Insight on the perspective of a food service operator

• Examples of not so good ways to get the sustainable food message across

• Examples of successful ways to influence and help the process.

Sustainable Food Systems, LLC

What has the food service industry done?

We’ve created our own monster!!

Quantity over Quality

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Conventional Food Service Purchasing

• Has become entirely automated

• Less & Less time dedicated

• Become a non-thinking process

• Often utilizes complex software and systems

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•

What will it take to overcome that model?

• Extra work – hard work• Manager now needs to “think”• A systemized guide• Flexibility

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Pro

du

ct

desi

rab

ilit

y

HIGH

LOW

Geography•Connecticut•Region •United States•International

Farm Size •Small, independent •Medium •Large

Product Type

•Free range •Organic•IPM/ Ecological •Conventional

Prioritize local, independently-owned, organic farms in purchasing

Wil

lin

gn

ess

to

pay

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How can we help the process along?

Sustainable Food Systems, LLC

Sustainable Food Systems, LLC

Not recommended ways to “help”:

• Threats / confrontation

• Complaints

• Hollow offers of assistance

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Examples of Successful ways to influence change:

• Collaboration• Patience, yet persistent • Garner support from high up• Share possative stories and stats

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To help:

Understand, accept the ramifications of change and promote to your

fellow customers.

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Changes in:

• Menu size

• Menu Style

• Seasonality

• Service

• Variety

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To help:

• Contribute honest, open and dependable support

• Motivate change through the heart as well as the mind

Sustainable Food Systems, LLC

John Turennewww.sustainablefoodsystems.co

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