Sustainability
Local Growers
Dining Services is able to provide locally grown food through a network called Food Alliance Midwest. This is a partner organization with a national group called Food Alliance. The Food Alliance website, www.foodalliance.org, carries the following self-description:
“Food Alliance is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable agriculture by recognizing and rewarding farmers who produce food in environmentally friendly and socially responsible ways, and educating consumers and others in the food system about the benefits of sustainable agriculture.”
The website also provides a complete list of growers that meet Midwest Alliance’s certification standards.
Carleton Dining Services has used seven vendors from Food Alliance Midwest - Axdahl Farms, Stillwater, MN; Cedar Summit Farm, New Prague, MN; Gilbertson Farms, Scandia, MN; Nuto Farms, Rice Lake, WI; Pepin Heights Orchards, Lake City, MN; Vine Valley Farm, Stewart, MN; and Wescott Orchards & AgriProducts, Elgin, MN.
Composting
Carleton’s commitment to sustainability includes a composting component. Beginning in the fall of 2007, the College will compost food waste and other products made out of biodegradable material. All food waste produced by Carleton’s dining facilities will be collected in yellow “compostable” bins. In addition, all disposable items at the snack bar, including plates, cups, containers, and utensils, are compostable. During Carleton’s 2007 Commencement and Reunion activities, all meals were served with plates and utensils made of corn-based materials that were then composted. While individual composting is common, undertaking the process on a larger scale is not. Many communities, including Northfield, compost leaves, grass and other yard waste, but approximately 55 do compost (or will in the future) organic matter at professionally managed composting facilities.
The program will help Carleton in its efforts to live up to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, recently signed by Carleton President Robert A. Oden Jr. The commitment pledges to move toward eliminating Carleton’s greenhouse gas emissions and steer the College toward climate neutrality. One of the items signed by Oden asks participants to select from a list of seven ways to support sustainability—in this case, reducing waste on campus.
Local Foods Lunch
On September 4, 2007, Dining Services served a local foods luncheon to the annual Faculty Retreat attendees.
