Plumpton College and Local Produce

Plumpton College set out to improve the health of their menus and to buy most of their food for the college canteen from local sources. Common Cause worked with the school caterers to go though the menus to increase the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables on offer, identify which products to source locally and work out their ordering requirements.

PlumptonCollege had their own organic Sussex breed Cattle which could supply the kitchens. A neighbouring organic veg farm was approached to supply vegetables.

Sussex Downs College agreed to initiate a year long part time course for caterers to train them on using seasonal produce in a canteen setting.




Problems Encountered

• Getting used to seasonality of vegetables
• Finding a local vegetable producer that can deliver as a wholesaler
• Fitting slaughtering times in with the menu
• Having a timetable for when the beef carcasses would be ready
• Finding outlets for the more expensive cuts of meat.

Some solutions

• Develop a catering style veg box with a few basic vegetables of sufficient volume that are available most of the year with one or two other surprises that change through the seasons.
• Get the meat producer to provide a timetable of when and how many carcasses he can supply
• Work with local hotels to see if they can take the hindquarters
• Make sure that the carcass is butchered and delivered in suitable sized packs with joints boned and rolled.

More information contact
Katharine Rayner
Common Cause Co-operative Ltd
20 North Street
Lewes
East Sussex BN7 2PE
T: 01273 470900
E:

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