Macalester College
( St. Paul MN 55406 )
Contact Name:
Lori Hartzell
Contact Title:
General Manager
Telephone:
(651) 696-6045
E-Mail:
lhartzell@cafebonappetit.com
Program Web Site:
bamco.com
Who was most responsible for initiating your farm-to-college program?

Food service management company
In what year did the program begin?

Other, please specify:
Are students actively involved in maintaining the program?

no
In what ways, if any, would you like students to be involved in the program?

Coordinating purchase/delivery of products

Researching availability of local products

Researching costs/benefits of local purchasing
What role, if any, have cooperative extension agents or other agency/agricultural professionals played in the farm-to-college program?

Stimulating interest and/or disseminating information (i.e., outreach)
What role, if any, would be useful for cooperative extension agents or other agency/agricultural professionals to play in the farm-to-college program?

Facilitator for certain program components
Who runs/is primarily responsible for the farm-to-college program? (please choose primary person/group in charge)

Dining/food services director/manager
Where do the majority of your locally purchased farm products come from?

State-wide
What are the primary local farm products you purchase? (please list top 3-5 items)

Other, please specify:
Are any of these local food products organically grown?

yes

yes
Approximately how much, in dollars, does dining/food services spend annually on local farm products?

Other, please specify:

Other, please specify:
What is the approximate total number of individual farmers you purchase products from during an entire calendar year?

16-20 farmers

16-20 farmers
Who/where are local products purchased from?

Campus/student farm or garden

Distributor(s)

Individual farmer(s)
Was external funding or other resources (grants, equipment, etc.) used to...

Not used
Have any of the following individuals or groups been directly involved in development, coordination, education or promotion related to the farm-to-college program?

Community/local/state environmental organization(s)

Farmer association(s)

Food service management company

Student environmental organization(s)
Is there a local farmer's organization (i.e., a cooperative) involved in your program that was in place prior to the program's start?

Other, please specify:
Have you used any of the following to promote the program or enhance its educational value?

Farm tours

Information in dining locations about the program

Press releases

Speakers/demonstrations

Special events (eg., local foods dinner)
What, if any, other environmental initiatives on your campus are connected with the farm-to-college program?

College/student farm

Fair trade projects

Sustainable agriculture research and curriculum projects
Are there any bidding requirements for purchasing local food?

no

no
Do local products cost more on average?

yes

yes
If yes, how do you manage the higher price?

Reduce costs elsewhere to make up the difference
What do you see as the most significant barriers to starting or sustaining farm-to-college programs?

Getting farmers approved through food service company

Coordinating purchase/delivery of products

Finding growers/local product supply

Seasonal availability of products

Getting administrative support
What do you see as the most significant benefits from farm-to-college programs?

Higher quality food

Lower environmental impacts

Opportunity for student education/research

Good for school and/or company public relations

Supporting local farmers, community and/or economy
Of the following policy issues, please choose up to two, if any, that you believe would provide the most significant support for farm-to-college programs:

Grants/subsidies to help farmers build season extenders

Grants/subsidies to help farmers shift to more sustainable production and direct marketing
What strategies, if any, do you recommend for making farm-to-college programs work?

Get college/university administrative support

Build positive relationships among key players (such as dining/food services, farmers, faculty/staff, and students)

Engage students in program activities (i.e., research, creating promotional materials)

Be patient but persistent

Start small, such as planning a local foods dinner
Is dining/food services:

Contract-managed (please provide contractor name)

Contract-managed (please provide contractor name)
If the program is contract-managed, from which level(s) of the company are individuals involved in the program?

District level

Local level
Total number of individual meals served daily in locations operated by dining/food services:

Other, please specify:

Other, please specify:
Does food services use a (please choose most appropriate answer):

Mixed plan

Mixed plan
What is dining/food services' approximate annual budget for food?

Other, please specify:

Other, please specify: