MISSOULA –

University Dining Services at The University of Montana recently announced that their Farm to College program set annual records for purchases of locally raised or produced products.

 “According to my purchasing analysis we passed the $1 million mark for local and sustainable purchases for the first time this fiscal year,” said FTC Coordinator Ian Finch. “A combined grand total of $1,103,606 was made for purchases from both FTC and University Dining Services Sustainable. That’s money we’ve recirculated back into the Montana economy.”

This past year’s FTC purchases totaled $764,944, an increase from the previous year’s total of $604,606. University Dining Services Sustainable, which deals with local vendors and businesses that make the effort to create or produce products in an environmentally sustainable way, totaled $338,662 in purchases. The combined total represents 27.9 percent of UDS’ total food budget.

As one of the national pioneers in the field of advocating and implementing the concept of “buying local,” FTC does business with an average of 75 local farmers, ranchers and food producers annually. In May 2013 the program will celebrate its 10th anniversary as part of University Dining Services.

For information about UM’s Farm to College program, call Finch at 406-243-4042 or email ian.finch@mso.umt.edu.

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Western Montana

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