Prince Charles shows his support for food excellence in hospitals made possible by companies such as Kent based Foodari with their innovative local food hub.
Food has long been seen as one of the worst parts of any hospital visit but times are changing with hospitals working with ground breaking companies like Foodari to change the way food is sourced and supplied to the healthcare sector. If the supply chain is reduced by working with local producers the quality, freshness and nutritional content can increase whilst budgets are maintained or even savings made.
Jonathan Parker MD of Foodari, Kent’s pioneering fresh produce supplier, was privileged to spend time with the next King of England discussing some of the challenges to improving hospital food. Foodari has developed a unique network of growers in Kent then acts as a hub to supply locally sourced food from Kentish farms direct to hospitals across the region.
“When you are ill or recovering from an operation it makes such a difference to eat highly nutritious, good quality, fresh food. We have been supplying top quality food to fine dining establishments like Clarence House, Prince Charles’ residence for sometime but being able to meet the different challenges, particularly budgetary, within hospitals has been hard work. We have had to change the traditional supply chain, to make it as short as possible, and ensure the right quality produce can be supplied within very tight budgets.” Says Jonathan.
It is well documented that seasonal, local produce arrives in a fresher, tastier state with a reduced environmental impact than non-local food. But it is often forgotten that there are far-reaching health, economic, community and food security benefits from eating produce that is sourced from the local vicinity.
“We are really excited HRH The Prince of Wales is so supportive of championing the local cause. I get so frustrated when I see foreign imports or frozen food in hospitals when there are much better seasonal equivalents.
“We are seeing a real change but it is early days and decision makers in the public sector need to continue to take notice. We have recently started supplying over 150 Kent schools that are already seeing benefits; we need the same enthusiasm for hospital food.”
Foodari, based in Challock, Kent, distributes fresh fruit, vegetables and dairy to hotels, restaurants, schools and hospitals in the South East. It works with Kentish farms to source as much food locally as possible and passionately believes that this is the future.
www.foodari.co.uk
