Sowing Success: Local Sourcing and Lessons Learned

Drawing on insights from our white paper, Sowing Success: Local Food Purchasing Insights from 25 Years of the Farm to Fork Program, this webinar presentation will bring together chefs, culinary directors, and regional partners who are at the forefront of Bon Appétit’s local sourcing program in the Northeast. This webinar will explore factors that sustain successful sourcing programs, including the power of relationship-building, the value of culinary creativity and flexibility, and utilizing ingredients that are available year-round.

Speakers will share firsthand stories and strategies for adapting sourcing efforts to meet the unique needs of their regional foodsheds. We will also discuss various challenges with sourcing local food (geographic limitations, increased prep time, budget concerns, time needed to order from multiple vendors, etc.) and ongoing efforts to increase supplier diversity. We will highlight long-term regional partners who connect our guests with flavorful local foods and highlight partners that have increased our access to minority and women owned food business and producers. Attendees will walk away with actionable insights to deepen their own local purchasing initiatives and cultivate meaningful and durable partnerships.