The University of Maine system will be announcing their choice for a new food service vendor later this week. The new food service vendor will be providing food services to six of the seven universities in the system for the next five years.
Whoever is chosen as the new vendor will be participating in part of the system’s new “One University” approach to governance and procurement, as the new contract requires that 20% of the ingredients and food come from local sources including farmers.
Currently Aramark, Sodexo, and the Maine Farm & Sea Cooperative are all vying for the University of Maine contract.
“Farmers are already looking at how to scale up production for this new market,” said John Piotti of Maine Farmland Trust in a prepared statement. “It shows what’s possible when the UMaine System engages with and responds to students, faculty and broader community members. We hope this is a precedent that will continue throughout this contract and beyond.”
Read more
UMaine System moves toward purchasing more local food
UMaine offshore wind project lands $3.7 million federal grant
