One of the most dramatic possibilities for large-scale
change in food production is being contemplated in Maine, where the
Maine Farm and Sea Cooperative is bidding against Sodexo (based
in Paris) and Aramark (based in Philadelphia) in an effort to win a
$12.5 million, five-year contract to operate food procurement and
service operations at seven of the eight University of Maine campuses.
Truth Out - The
Maine Farm and Sea Cooperative - potentially the country's first
farm-to-institution food service cooperative - wants to offer locally
sourced food for the university community. The cooperative and the two
mega-corporations submitted their bids for the contract in early
December.
Ron Adams, a former director of Portland Public
Schools' food programs and board member of the cooperative, believes the
increasing demand for locally grown food - from outside consumers and
students alike - will provide the shift needed to bring local foods to
an institutional level.
The University of Maine's current
contract, which will expire on June 30, 2016, is with Aramark, according
to the university's records. If the university awarded the contract to
one of the two other bidders, it would end Aramark's 10-year
relationship with the university system.
According to the
University of Maine's request for proposals, which was released this
past August, the system has set a goal of sourcing 20 percent local food
by 2020.
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