It's fall harvest time and Chicago Public School (CPS) children have been enjoying local peaches and plums straight from Michigan farms. Chartwells Thompson Hospitality provides meals to over 300,000 students every day at CPS. FamilyFarmed.org partnered with the foodservice provider to connect them with local farmers. The work is now paying dividends as the district has committed to purchasing potatoes, apples, pears, peaches, and plums from Michigan and Wisconsin farmers.

"FamilyFarmed.org has been integral for us to develop relationships with local growers," says Bob Bloomer, Regional Vice President of Chartwells Thompson Hospitality. "Our high volume purchasing is going to benefit regional farmers, distributors, and communities. In turn, school children in Chicago will benefit from having the freshest local food on their table." As an example, Bloomer estimates that the district will purchase over a half million pounds of Michigan apples this year. They are also exploring the purchase of Illinois potatoes.

Chartwells Thompson Hospitality has also developed a frozen local program. At harvest time, they purchase regionally produced fruit and vegetables, flash freeze them within 24 hours of the harvest, and then store the frozen produce for use during the school season. "This is a great way to lock in the nutrients of these fruits and vegetables," says Bloomer. "We will be purchasing thousands of pounds of these products this school year. The kids love it."

FamilyFarmed.org extends gratitude to the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The Lumpkin Family Foundation, The Liberty Prairie Foundation, and the Goodman Family Foundation for supporting this work.

For more information about Chartwells Thompson Hospitality please contact Bob Bloomer.