One of the criteria for being a green hotel is purchasing as many locally produced food products as possible. It could be a head of lettuce or a bottle of wine but locally made products provide significant advantages for the environment and the local community. Yes, there are times when it is impossible to buy local, but through creative purchasing you can minimize your property’s environmental impact.
When was the last time you took a close look at your food purchasing policy? What percentage of the goods that you buy is bought from local vendors? If you buy from a distributor, what percentage of what they supply is grown or produced within a few hours’ drive of your property? If you are buying meat from another continent, I suggest taking a serious look at your purchasing practices. Here are six good reasons to buy locally produced products.
1. Locally produced items require less fuel for transportation. Fewer greenhouse gases are generated. Most food, for example, travels 1,500 miles from farm to plate, while locally grown food typically travels 50 miles or less.
2. Locally grown food usually arrives in markets within 24 hours of being plucked from the vine or dug from the ground. So, it’s unusually fresh and tasty. Fresher foods also keep longer—reducing waste in the kitchen.
3. Because locally grown foods are so fresh, they are also more nutritious—a real plus for your guests.
4. When food items are bought direct from farmers or at local farmers’ markets, the farmers keep 80 to 90 cents of each dollar. When food is sold through middlemen and marketers, farmers often receive just 10 cents of each dollar spent.
5. When buying local, a greater portion of each dollar spent stays home to support the local economy. Tax dollars stay in the community.
6. Buying local provides a competitive edge for your food and beverage operations. You can market the fact that your menu ingredients are fresh and locally grown.
Analyze where your food comes from. Pull out a map and mark the locations. What you discover may surprise you. After you have gotten over the initial shock, take a serious look at what you can do to reduce the distance from point of food origin to your property. If you purchase in bulk from a distributor, include them in the process. Explain your concerns. If they want to keep your business, they will work with you to find new suppliers closer to where you are located.
If no local or regional grower is available, choose a locally owned distributor that can meet your needs. No matter where you get your food products, choose organic and Fair Trade items when possible. They have less environmental impact and tend to be produced responsibly. Be aware of the impact of your decision to cater to local or regional vendors. On occasions, developing nations that are 100 percent reliant on food exports can suffer from the disappearing business.
Purchasing can be a complex process but it most definitely is one area where your property can have a positive environmental and social impact. And, it is not just food that matters. Where you buy your mattresses or pillows also is important, as well as the construction materials that will be used for your new property or renovation.
Many companies mentioned here at Green Lodging News already have adopted green purchasing policies. Make it a priority in 2007 to do the same.
Odds and Ends
A Hummer of an idea? One of the industry trade publications recently reported that the Staybridge Suites Chantilly-Dulles Airport in Chantilly, Va., had purchased a Hummer H2 to transport its guests to and from Dulles Airport. The hotel purchased the vehicle for $60,000. The red vehicle gets a whopping 10 to 15 miles per gallon. Is that the kind of environmental message a hotel should be sending? Hummmm…..I will let you decide.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com, or by calling (440) 243-2055. I look forward to hearing from you.
