Farm to Institution

Farm to Institution

Rick Worthington
Rick Worthington
Farm to Institution

Nationwide, tens of millions of people each day eat their meals outside of home at schools, colleges, hospitals, corporate cafeterias and government agencies.

Each one of these institutions represents an opportunity for U.S. farmers, ranchers and food businesses to gain market share, forge ties with local residents, and improve community health.

There is a growing number of people who see the benefits of buying locally produced food, but the problem has been connecting them with the farmers who grow it. Now , there is a matchmaking service called the "Farm to Institution" program.

Coordinator Regina Lloyd says the program matches institutions to farmers who can supply some of their food needs.

"We are looking at nursing homes, schools, universities, hospitals to give them safer and healthier food."

Lloyd notes that many producers are too small to provide everything an institution like a university would need, so the "Farm to Institution" program helps them unite.

"We are trying to get a cooperative going, so the small producers can work with the institutions and maybe cooperatively put together their product so they have adequate size for the institutions."

Many Universities across the west are also now looking into the program, or have already used the service. There is quite alot of information available about the program online at USDA.gov.

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