Sustainable Food, Why All The Fuss!?

Sustainable Food, Why All The Fuss!?
By Dwayne Reno

Canadians are becoming more aware of the foods they eat so it’s no wonder why many in the foodservice industry are making the move towards sustainable food. On average the food you serve to your customers travels 4500km from the place it was originally grown.

Not only does it increase the cost of the goods to transport them this way, but the food has to be treated with chemicals so it stays fresh by the time it gets to you. This week I would like to look at what is sustainable food and why your customers care so much.

What is Sustainable Food?
Sustainably grown food has been produced in ways that are healthy, do not harm the environment, provide fair wages to farmers, and support farming communities. Sustainability means buying locally as much as possible. But buying locally does not necessarily mean the food is grown sustainably. Local food can still contain pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics. So when you buy local food, make sure the farmers are using sustainable methods.

Over the past few months many large fast food chains have gone the sustainable route. Recently McDonalds Canada, Second Cup, A&W, Tim Hortons and many more large chain operators have made the decision to use sustainable cage free eggs only, and their customers are loving it!  
 
Why the fuss!?
“More people are realizing there’s a myriad of chemicals in conventionally produced food,” says Craig Minowa, environmental scientist with the Organic Consumers Association, a nonprofit advocacy group told WebMD.com during an interview, here.

Chemical such as pesticides are in our produce, growth hormones in our milk and antibiotics in our meat. Furthermore these chemicals trickle into the soil and groundwater which can have a global impact on world health.

How can my food business become sustainable?
The foodservice industry is waking up to the fact that when you buy sustainable food not only will it taste better, but it’s also better for your customers, which is great for your marketing, which is great for your sales. Implementing a sustainability plan for your restaurant, bar or café is getting easier.

Food suppliers like Building Block Associates have a very strong commitment to providing their customers with sustainably grown food. The company also buys direct from Ontario growers so you get the best locally grown ingredients for your customers. Below are some pointers to get your business on the path to sustainability.

1. Look at what you are buying: Start by simple looking at the food items you are buying. If you do not know its place of origin, consider replacing those ingredients with sustainably grown ingredients.
2. Start small: Introduce a few locally grown food ingredients to replace any GMO or imported ingredients on your menu - increase as time goes on.
3. Buy from a sustainable food supplier: Buying from a sustainable food supplier will keep your worries to a minimum and put your focus back on making profits and great food with quality sustainable ingredients.

If you would like more about our sustainability commitment and our locally grown ingredients, here.Until next time your customers want to know why they should spend money at your restaurant, bar or cafe. So give them the goods!

Need inspiration? Checkout some of our services.