The South West Food Hub is working in partnership with the Crown Commercial Service to support the delivery of a new dynamic approach to public sector food procurement.
The new approach, anticipated to launch early next year, is known as the Future Food Framework. It will be delivered via a sophisticated online platform that will enable small and medium sized producers in the region to sell directly to public sector institutions. The ambition is that at least half of the public sector money spent on food and drink in the South West will be spent directly with small and medium sized producers based in the region by 2026. This will be good for the local economy, for local farmers, for food security and for the environment, and will help SWFH to build back better whilst forming a key part of the next green and blue revolutions to sustainably feed the future population.
The platform, an online marketplace, will enable producers and suppliers who meet its entry criteria the opportunity to market their products directly to the public sector, with flexibility to choose what they want to supply, how much, and when. It will also give public sector buyers a much wider choice of options to source local fresh food through shorter, more sustainable supply chains, whilst redirecting public sector food spend into the regional economy. This new approach to public sector food procurement will have a greater focus on sustainability, seasonality, quality, and welfare standards than has been previously seen in public sector food contracts.
Monthly online events attracting 70+ sign ups will be held with the first two as follows:
Tuesday 2 March at 2.30pm (Today!):
Healthy Eating and Food Procurement
Wednesday 10 March at 12noon
Future Food Framework: Assurance Schemes
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