Local Food Hub, a nonprofit organization that partners with Virginia farmers to increase community access to local food, recognized DC Central Kitchen with the Institutional Leader Award at the annual Community Food Awards celebration last Thursday.
The Community Food Awards recognizes farmers, businesses, and community partners for their commitment to local food, healthy communities, and Virginia agriculture.
Presented by St. Anne’s-Belfield School, the Institutional Leader Award honors an institution that has made a commitment to local agriculture through their menu planning and food service offerings. DCCK was recognized for utilizing Local Food Hub’s distribution services and farmer relationships to ensure that Virginia-grown products are available to those who need it most in our nation’s capital.
“DCCK is so honored to receive this award,” said Amy Bachman, Director of Procurement & Sustainability for DC Central Kitchen. “Local Food Hub has been a wonderful partner in helping us source local produce from Virginia, connecting us with new farms and new produce we did not have access to before. We are excited to continue our partnership that supports local Virginia farms!”
As the food service provider for 15 low-income schools in Washington, DC and the only USDA-recognized permanent food hub in the District, DC Central Kitchen sources ingredients from more than 30 local family farms in the DMW. Every meal is scratch-cooked according to recipes designed by an expert team of chefs and dietitians; and, in addition to providing meals, DCCK offers engaging cooking demonstrations, taste tests, and nutrition education lessons for the students and staff at the schools they serve.
DCCK’s locally-sourced, scratch-cooked, healthy meals were recognized with the prestigious Golden Carrot Award from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in 2015 for exceptional work to improve the healthfulness of school lunches.
Photo Credit: Charlottesville Tomorrow