Michigan Dining goes hyperlocal with student-grown produce

Students at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor will be served student-grown produce from the campus farm at dining halls this fall, M Live reports.

The dining team received its first batch of produce from UM’s on-campus farm in June, after students received the proper USDA certification to grow, harvest and deliver food to campus dining halls. In order to figure out what produce is needed, students communicate with the dining department weekly, and Michigan Dining purchases items accordingly. 

"The students are involved from seed to plate," Executive Chef Frank Turchan said. "The nice thing is, we're educating students that there is more than one way to cook squash or tomatoes, showing them how to take the product their growing and use it in five or 10 different ways.”

The partnership between Michigan Dining and the campus farm will reportedly help the university reach its goal of sustainably sourcing 20% of its food purchases by 2025.

Read the full story via mlive.com.