NEWS
Cornwall Food Production Unit Seeking More Business
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
The Cornwall Food Programme (CFP) was developed to address the food supply needs of the NHS in
It was started in 2001and is run by Cornwall Healthcare Estates and Support Services (CHESS), a shared service across all three Cornish NHS Trusts. One of the CFP?s core objectives is to incorporate local and organic food sourcing initiatives.
The CFP has two broad aims. First, to work in partnership with local producers, suppliers and distributors encouraging them to tender for NHS contracts and if successful to purchase and process a significant percentage of Cornish produce for use in patient, visitor and staff meals. Second, the CFP recognises the pivotal role of the NHS Trusts within their local communities.
The 3.6 million Cornrwall Food Production Unit (CFPU), operated by Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, was completed in February 2008
This state of the art kitchen will further contribute to regeneration and economic sustainability as, wherever possible, meals are prepared and cooked using locally grown and sourced ingredients.
The unit, which employs up to 28 people, is now preparing fresh vegetables, sourced locally, for use within all its recipes and it is intended that fresh vegetables, sourced within Cornwall, will be used for approximately ten months of the year, climate permitting.
The CFPU now purchases 40 percent locally produced products and 80 per cent of its food budget goes to local suppliers. The CFPU currently supplies to the