Farm to Hospital/Health Care

Hospitals and other health care centers are an important part of our Farm to Institution program. They can help to create new markets for smaller scale producers as well as improve upon the nutritional quality and freshness of the foods they serve. 

There are a few different avenues that hospitals can take to build a Farm to Institution program in their facility. Fostering relationships with local farms or food producers and bringing in more local products is mutually beneficial to improving the overall health focus of the hospital or health care center. Working on increasing local food procurement in a hospital program is diverse, and could mean purchasing fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, or grains for either patient or cafeteria meals. Hospitals and health care centers can also be the host to CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) drop off point, host a farmers' market, or create an edible or pollinator garden on site. 

Last updated March 5, 2024