The Local Food Crew works with the campus Dining Service on a variety of local food issues. The crew helps build and cultivate relationships between local growers (including our own farm and garden) and Dining Services. We also help educate the campus community about the many benefits of purchasing local and help identify local ingredients at meals. The crew also helps track and record local food purchasing patterns from year to year, and collaborates with the Sustainable Food Committe in setting and attaining goals set by this policy. The crew maintains this website and helps develop informational literature around local foods at WWC. The crew also is a critical link in the implementation of a "Sustainable Food Policy" that is nearing completion.
Each year, we complete an exhaustive "Local Foods Audit" of campus dining services to determine exactly how much of its budget goes to foods grown on campus, locally, and regionally as well as those certified organic, fair trade, or other 3rd-party certifications. Results from last years's audit is available from the appropriate link on the side menu..
We will be following the progress of the Sustainable Food Committee. Watch for updates, which will be posted as they are finalized and made available. You can comment on the current policy draft on the Sustainable Food Policy page. Let your voice be heard!
We are also working to compile research on local foods, the WWC food system, and related topics, posting them online for general reference. Please submit reports like this to us! Email localfoods@warren-wilson,edu
One of our overarching goals is to help members of the WWC community become aware of the choices they inherently make each time they eat at campus dining facilities, as well as their everyday lives.