Corporate
Citizenship
Sustainability: Colby College
Since 2000, Colby Dining Services has been making a concentrated effort to purchase locally grown and produced foods. This effort began with Colby Dining Services defining what constitutes a locally grown and/or produced food. The Colby definition is a supplier and producer within the state of Maine. For example, Shain's of Maine ice cream is made with dairy (milk, cream) from Maine farms but the almonds for Butter Almond Ice Cream may come from out of state.
Beginning in February 2007, Colby Dining Services will offer sustainable choices on their catering menu. With the completion of the Pulver Pavilion in the Fall 2007, the new coffee / smoothie bar with feature organic, sustainable and fair trade offerings.
WHO / WHAT? Dining Services works with Sodexo's prime vendors to source items locally wherever possible. In addition, purchases are also made directly from local vendors including
- Farm Fresh Connections - for produce
- Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)
- The Apple Farm in Fairfield
- Shain's of Maine - Ice Cream
- Dole & Bailey Inc. - Meats
- Maine Shellfish
- Oakhurst Dairy - featuring 100% hormone free milk , 80% of which is produced locally
WHEN? All year long as available
HOW MUCH? Approximately 20% of all of Dining Services purchases are from local vendors and that percentage is increasing each year.
SPECIFIC CHALLENGES:
The growing season is short in Maine and many local farms cannot support the volume that is needed to feed
the students in three dining halls.
Resources:
Farm Fresh Connection - The Farm Fresh Connection is a program of the Maine Sustainable Agriculture Society that is working to build relationships between Maine farmers, students, food buyers in health and educational institutions and local communities, thereby sustaining Maine farms, boosting local economies, and nurturing community. Farm Fresh Connection is currently working to market local farm products. The Farm Fresh Connection acts as the broker to between local farms and institutions. They coordinate a weekly list of available products and enable purchasing of farm products from local farms.
View the full summary of the sustainability efforts at Colby College as a PDF document here.
View other university sustainability profiles as a PDF document here.
Did You Know?
In 2007, 92 percent of Sodexo's 3,000 safety and health audits and 94 percent of Sodexo's food safety audits passed with a score of 90 percent or better.
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