Tufts University
OP-7: Food and Beverage Purchasing

Sustainability is a priority at Tufts Dining. In 1995 with the renovation of our largest dining center, Dewick-MacPhie, it was established that both dining centers would feature organic whole grains and legumes exclusively on the vegetarian stations. Other organic items were sourced as well, including (local) oatmeal, tofu, granola, and peanut butter. The commitment to purchase locally grown food during fall semester began in 2002. Today, we purchase as much locally grown produce as is available from our produce distributor, Costa Fruit and Produce. We also are working closely with Costa Fruit & Produce along with Sid Wainer & Sons Produce for processed vegetables, directing them to acquire as much local vegetables as possible throughout the growing season. Marinara sauce and applesauce are made from MA-grown tomatoes and apples sourced from FATBOY Foods: https://www.fbfoods.com/ Although we are limited by the short New England growing season we maximize what we purchase by creating seasonal menus that highlight the produce which is grown locally. Seafood is sourced from Foley's Fish: http://www.foleyfish.com/StoreBoston/main/home.aspx. We are mindful of our purchases, preferring to purchase fish from local waters that are deemed as acceptable based on government information and seafood guides. Tufts Dining supports the livelihood of local fishermen by purchasing locally caught wild fish, which we serve in many of our seafood dishes in the dining centers. We also purchase sustainable-farm-raised seafood, including tilapia, catfish, trout, clams, and mussels. Fair Trade Certified products ensure that producers in developing countries work in safe conditions and receive a living wage. We serve fair trade or organic coffee in Hotung Café and the Tower Café, with certified fair trade Rain Forest Alliance certified coffee in Carmichael and Dewick-MacPhie Dining Centers, Hodagdon, Mugar and Catering. Tufts Dining purchases its milk from Garelick Farms (Dean Foods), which sources it locally from dairy farms in Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York. http://garelickfarms.com/ All of our yogurt is local, coming from Green Mountain Creamery and Stonyfield. We purchase local cheese from Cabot and a local cheddar through Paul Marks.

Tufts Dining receives annual reports from its purveyors, which track sustainable food and beverages based upon our definitions.

Although some of our milk and yogurt do not fit the strict guidelines for Local & Community based as the companies are owned by large corporations, the milk is derived from local dairy farms employing individuals in rural New England. Additionally, our sustainable seafood purchases include fish like Hake, Red Fish, Pollock that are locally caught and which Monterrey Bay Aquarium rates as "good alternative".

Please look at both the attached PDF and the attached spreadsheet. The PDF indicates the total expenditures on organic or "local and community-based" food products. The spreadsheet explains why these companies are local and community-based.