Dartmouth Launches Local Buy Program

FM Staff

Darmouth Dining Services (DDS) launched an experiment this summer to purchase 11 varieties of produce directly from several farms in the local area. The products included strawberries, green beans, beets, summer squash, green and red peppers, cucumbers, corn, carrots, watermelons and red onions.

DDS had already been purchasing from local producers through distributors, but under the new program, the department has also committed to purchasing directly from farmers. As the program develops, DDS will tag meals containing New Hampshire and Vermont farm products using a special student-designed Farm-to-Dartmouth logo.

The program is the latest initiative by Dartmouth to take part in the agricultural life of the local community. It also purchases apples and maple syrup produced in the area, menus New Hampshire-raised buffalo meat in its Homeplate Grill outlet and earlier this year switched to cage-free shelled eggs from a nearby producer. It also holds an annual Taste of the Upper Valley local foods dinner during its freshman orientation week.