Highlights of the Institutional Food Learning Group meeting Guelph, Jan 2016
By Jennifer Reynolds - Institutional Food Program Manager at Food Secure Canada
Shifting the food spend by hospitals, schools, campuses and other large food purchasers towards ingredients that are locally and sustainably produced has wide-reaching health, economic and sustainability impacts. For the past year and a half, Food Secure Canada and the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation have been learning alongside the Institutional Food Learning Group, which consists of a cohort of 8 diverse projects across Canada on how to effectively change the procurement practices of public and private institutions to prompt supply chain shifts towards more sustainable food production and systems.
Yet working as isolated individuals to change the purchasing practices and institutional culture to prioritize sourcing more local, sustainable ingredients can be a daunting task. It requires patience and perseverance in learning how to navigate complex supply chains and and make changes in institutional food service operations. When things get challenging, it can be helpful to reflect on the many reasons for doing this work including improving health, revitalizing rural communities, and creating a positive food culture. This need for re-energizing is at the core of why the Learning Group comes together.
Learning from practitioners and site visits
The Learning Group met at the end of January 2016 in southern Ontario for three days to continue learning from each other and to visit a school, hospital, university campus and food distributor (links below) that are all working towards the goal of more fresh, local food served in institutions. Participants also heard about innovative procurement projects supported by the Greenbelt Fund’s Broader Public Sector Grant Stream including the Public Purse Procurement - 3P Mentorship Program and the journey of MEALsource, a public sector group purchasing organization for 33 health care food service locations in Ontario, in procuring from VG Meats (a local sustainable cattle processor) - check out the inspiring case study!
To someone new to the vernacular of procurement the lingo can make for heady conversation:
“Why did your GPO change the evaluation criteria for its RFP for meat suppliers from cost per gram to cost per gram of protein?”
“You created one local product code for the SKU that can be then be identified by origin for each province?”
“How did the local supplier negotiate their relationships with their direct sales clients after they became listed with the broadline distributor?”
But what we heard from Learning Group members is that this meeting was exactly what they are looking for. “Getting a group of hard working, borderline burnt out individuals together to re-establish the connection and community we're a part of collectively. We often work in isolation, and while web-based meetings are useful, nothing can replace the benefits of meeting in person” - feedback from Learning Group participant.
“Made to stick” communications
In addition to technical information, project leaders brainstormed how they can effectively use “made to stick” communications that are Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, and Story-based (SUCCES), and also timely and engaging for their key audiences. Beyond their own projects, they explored through in-depth discussions how they might collectively inspire other institutions to start sourcing local, sustainable food. One such tool has already been created, a video by Équiterre about how two Learning Group projects of integrated healthcare and social service providers in Quebec, the CISSS des Laurentides and CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, worked to get more local fruits and vegetables on their menus.
Alignment on Shared Values for successful organizational change
Scaling challenges
A common thread through many of the discussions related to the challenges of scaling up initiatives. On the “supply” side there is a need to increase the volume of local, sustainable food production from small and medium sized growers to meet growing institutional demand combined with the challenges of scaling for distribution - how to aggregate local supply to better mesh with the larger volume institutional buyers and distributors. On the “demand” side, after an institution picks the ‘low-hanging fruit’ it can be challenging to make deeper changes in institutional purchasing and food service operations to enable more fresh, local foods to be on the menu. At a landscape level there are many questions about how institutions innovative institutions can collaborate strategically to have an impact on the broader system issues, like inadequate information about product origin, or inadequate food budgets.
Stay tuned for future reports of the Institutional Food Learning Group’s journey!
Check out the links below for more information on the sites we visited:
FoodShare warehouse and Good Food Café - The Good Food Café serves high quality, diverse, rotating menus at a low cost making fruit and vegetable focused meals that kids will actually eat.
St Michael’s Hospital – Having worked on local food for many years, the hospital most recently worked in partnership with George Brown College to increase local food items with new recipes for the patient menu.
Gordon Food Service – We learned about the evolution of their local program, now with 600+ products listed, and also toured the distribution warehouse. Local suppliers have ‘trading cards’ that tell customers about their product listings.
University of Guelph – We learned about how dining services are increasing local purchasing including transforming an underutilized storage room into a fresh produce processing facility that enables them to purchase large volumes of locally grown fruits and vegetables in season, process them, and use them throughout the year - delivering on both flavour and savings!
- Log in to post comments
Comments
Very informative...
Very informative...
Providing a healthy and
Providing a healthy and nutritional diet is a real challenge for all the time. I appreciate the efforts done by the team to learn the food techniques. It is inspiring to see a group of hard working, borderline burnt out individuals together to re-establish the connection and community. computer running slow Thanks for sharing.
I also wish to become a
I also wish to become a member of this great community. And I also wish to become part of this movement by Food Secure Canada. I have got an idea on their effort and I truly appreciate their effort. Thank you for sharing all details over here.dish network
reply
Institution of food learning group has conducted many meeting that came to be success and I have gone through many of the articles of the same. The things discussed there are very much helpful and informative and I hope you will keep updating things like this again. commode
I agree that supply chain is
I agree that supply chain is complex and very sophisticated so it needs to be learned properly and understand each processes in order to shift towards a sustainable food system. Food system is important because it is a necessity, people needs food of course. The supply chain is evolving and they must integrate and adapt to the new processes in order to have a more efficient and effective operation. This must not be neglected. Learn more about supply chain here at BR International Supply Chain Consulting.
reply
The highlights of the institutional food learning group meeting found to be informative and I would like to thank the blog members for sharing such wonderful page of write up with us. There are so many interesting insights shared in this meeting and keep it up. print spooler service not running
I think it is important or
I think it is important or informative to conduct such classes. This will give the people an idea about the source of their food. In General, it may not be benefiting to a mass group, but some people may have an idea about it.
internet providers in my area
thank you
Thank you for any other magnificent post. The place else could anyone get that type of information in this perfect manner of writing? I have a demonstration subsequent week, and I am looking for such info.
hide online
good
From your post only I came to know about this. After reading this I am pretty much interested to know more about it. I think you will share more details as soon as possible here. Thank you and share more.hp printer not connecting
Benefits of Lettuce
A debt of gratitude is in order for sharing the information, keep doing awesome... I truly delighted in investigating your site. great asset... Benefits of Lettuce
Sage
This is a good post. This post gives truly quality information. I’m definitely going to look into it. Really very useful tips are provided here. Thank you so much. Keep up the good works Sage
Oregano
The article posted was very informative and useful. You people are doing a great job. Keep going. Oregano
Cilantro
i am for the first time here. I found this board and I in finding It truly helpful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to present something back and help others such as you helped me. Cilantro
Parsley
Super site! I am Loving it!! Will return once more, Im taking your food likewise, Thanks. Parsley
Spelt
This is also a very good post which I really enjoy reading. It is not everyday that I have the possibility to see something like this. Spelt
Spices
I need to to thank you for this very good read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked to check out new things you post… Spices
Black Seed Oil
Wow, happy to see this awesome post. I hope this think help any newbie for their awesome work. By the way thanks for share this awesomeness from Black Seed Oil
church on the hill oregon
Really appreciate this wonderful post that you have provided for us.Great site and a great topic as well i really get amazed to read this. Its really good. church on the hill oregon
short run cd-r duplication
Very Informative and useful... Keep it up the great work. short run cd-r duplication
short run cd-r duplication
Very Informative and useful... Keep it up the great work. short run cd-r duplication
video marketing parkland florida
A great website with interesting and unique material what else would you need. video marketing parkland florida
pretoria solar panels
I think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. therefore, I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. pretoria solar panels
Best marketing tools
Swipe for forums or advertising: I found this free book on line and it shows some free or low cost programs internet gurus use to run their successful business. Quite interesting indeed. I learned a lot from it. For those of you who are interested, have a look. You have nothing to lose and the best part is, it is free. Best marketing tools
nj property tax appeal do it yourself
Thanks for the informative and helpful post, obviously in your blog everything is good.. nj property tax appeal do it yourself
Consumer Financing
I have read your excellent post. This is a great job. I have enjoyed reading your post first time. I want to say thanks for this post. Thank you... Consumer Financing
cheap link building services
This is a wonderful article, Given so much info in it, These type of articles keeps the users interest in the website, and keep on sharing more ... good luck. cheap link building services
educafit
Hello! Awesome write up. I’m a normal visitor of your web site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. educafit
BA Part 1 Exam Date 2019
I see some amazingly important and kept up to length of your strength searching for in your on the site BA Part 1 Exam Date 2019
cbd gummies
This is a fabulous post I seen because of offer it. It is really what I expected to see trust in future you will continue in sharing such a mind boggling post cbd gummies
Showbox
This is a fabulous post I seen because of offer it. It is really what I expected to see trust in future you will continue in sharing such a mind boggling post Showbox
web marketing
This is very educational content and written well for a change. It's nice to see that some people still understand how to write a quality post! web marketing
Land Clearing Companies in Virginia
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to start my own Blog Engine blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine example of it. Land Clearing Companies in Virginia
Land Clearing Companies in Virginia
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to start my own Blog Engine blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine example of it. Land Clearing Companies in Virginia
토토사이트
You completely match our expectation and the variety of our information. 토토사이트
Educatological
I read that Post and got it fine and informative. Please share more like that... Educatological
buy Ripple in uae
I would also motivate just about every person to save this web page for any favorite assistance to assist posted the appearance. buy Ripple in uae
3D printer filament nylon
Three are usually cheap Ralph Lauren available for sale each and every time you wish to buy. 3D printer filament nylon
secrid wallet deutsch
I think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. therefore, I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. secrid wallet deutsch
implant dentar
Awesome blog. I enjoyed reading your articles. This is truly a great read for me. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work! implant dentar
Security guard company
Going to graduate school was a positive decision for me. I enjoyed the coursework, the presentations, the fellow students, and the professors. And since my company reimbursed 100% of the tuition, the only cost that I had to pay on my own was for books and supplies. Otherwise, I received a free master’s degree. All that I had to invest was my time. Security guard company
Bodies in Motion
Really impressed! Everything is very open and very clear clarification of issues. It contains truly facts. Your website is very valuable. Thanks for sharing. Bodies in Motion
Mer om Wordpress
I would also motivate just about every person to save this web page for any favorite assistance to assist posted the appearance. Mer om Wordpress
Church on the hill
There's no doubt i would fully rate it after i read what is the idea about this article. You did a nice job.. Church on the hill
online dating sites
I really appreciate this wonderful post that you have provided for us. I assure this would be beneficial for most of the people. online dating sites
enterprise data unification
Piperr is a suite of ML-based apps for enterprise data operations, to enable AI readiness faster and smoother. Piperr's ML-based pre-packaged data deduplication pipelines are ready-made, and they can be used by the businesses instantaneously. enterprise data unification
drywall contractors
Steel Stud framers and drywall contractors servicing Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto. We are experts in commercial interiors and Tenant Improvements. We build out TI’s and storefronts with great detail. We do metal framing, drywall boarding and taping. Call Colin at 604-761-1518 from your free quote on steel stud framing contractors and drywall contractors. drywall contractors
cursos marketing digital
I am always searching online for articles that can help me. There is obviously a lot to know about this. I think you made some good points in Features also. Keep working, great job ! cursos marketing digital
Kitchen Renovation Companies
Aero Kitchen Cabinets and Bathroom Vanities is a great place to start to look for your new kitchen cabinets and renovations. Looking for a quality Vancouver custom kitchen cabinets company that will start and finish your project with great detail. We make your dream kitchen at competitive pricing all while building trust and beautiful kitchens in Vancouver and surrounding areas. We are located centrally in Burnaby and can walk you through our shop where we manufacture custom kitchens for our clients. Kitcheaniesn Renovation Comp
seo
You should take a measure today by looking for the ideal match of affection today. parimatch
Glad to chat your blog, I
Glad to chat your blog, I seem to be forward to more reliable articles and I think we all wish to thank so many good articles, blog to share with us. DFY Real Estate Review
Pages