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Falkirk Council Catering Services - Public Procurement of Local Food:
Falkirk
catering contracts went out to tender in 2005 with a vision
to encourage local producers, not necessarily to tender for whole
contracts, but to make themselves available to ‘feed into’ contracted
suppliers thus enabling greater leeway for seasonality of produce and for
local fresh produce to feature on the school lunch menu.
Following FVFL’s
successful seminar in September 2004 on this issue, we pledged to move
forward by holding area “Meet the producer/ supplier” workshops.
At present we are working with Falkirk’s Catering Services Manager.
NHS Forth Valley
Following FVFL’s ‘Public Procurement of Local Food’ seminar, the NHS Forth
Valley Operational Support Services Manager (OSSM), wished to discuss the
issues around getting more local produce into Forth Valley Hospitals.
There have now been two meetings, involving the OSSM and the Acting
Contracts Manager for Scottish Healthcare Supplies.
Following the first discussion a meeting was called of producers from the
Falkirk area in order to discuss various issues raised at this and the
schools’ catering service meeting. These individuals are very keen to take
forward some of the suggestions, particularly that of setting up a fresh
produce scheme for staff members in possibly all of Forth Valley’s
hospitals. Their reaction has been “If people want to eat it, we will grow
it – we just need enough time to plan”. As a direct response to this
meeting we know that one of the producers present will be applying to FVFL
for funding in support of a new polytunnel to allow a lengthened growing
season for his vegetable/ salad crops. He is also looking to install
further hot beds and to consider replacing traditional (but worn out)
apples stores for his orchard.
Suggestions
arising from the meetings include: selling fresh produce at stalls in
Stirling Royal Infirmary entrance / Falkirk Royal Infirmary staff dining
room; setting up a box scheme for staff; offering occasional promotional
events within staff dining rooms to spotlight Forth Valley producers;
including Forth Valley produce in seasonal ‘specials’ in staff dining
rooms; getting Forth Valley producers to ‘feed’ into secondary wholesalers
who hold the NHS contracts.
Also to be looked
into: the potential for setting up a linked social enterprise, which might
act to prepare local produce (wash/ peal/ dice/ chop/ slice/ pack), for
hospital catering needs.
FVFL
Sustainable Procurement Seminar 2004
FVFL held a seminar in
September 2004 to explore the vision of local healthy food being bought and
served within the public services in Forth Valley.
133 people attended the event, the first of its kind
in Forth Valley, to hear a range of interesting and informative speakers and
engage in stimulating discussions.
The speakers were: Professor
Kevin Morgan, Hugh Raven, Iain Moore, Jade Bashford, Pam Rodway and Jeanette
Orrey.
Conference Proceedings
(MS Word 571 Kb)
are now available for download, and speaker presentations are available by
contacting us.
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