Local Foods

Local Food Initiatives

The University augmented its commitment to sustainable and local food by partnering with Bon Appétit Management Company to deliver Penn’s Dining program. Bon Appétit is committed to providing socially and environmentally responsible food.

A program called “Farm to Fork” will provide the Penn community with food from nearby farmers, while students, faculty, and staff can take part in educational opportunities about healthy lifestyle choices, sustainable agriculture, and a low-carbon diet. Providing organic and local food options is yet another way Penn continues to show its commitment to sustainability. Learn more about Penn and Bon Appétit's sustainable dining efforts at the Penn Dining website.

Farmers' Market

FARM-TO-INSTITUTION

With recent funding from the Claneil Foundation, Fair Food (a project of the White Dog Community Enterprises), the University of Pennsylvania, the Women's Health and Environmental Network, LaSalle University and other local institutions are working together to increase access to high quality, locally produced food.
Dining Hall

Dining Hall

LOCAL FOODS

Penn Dining is working closely with the White Dog Community Enterprises on the Farm-to-Institution program aimed at building strong supply links from local and regional farms to large institutional buyers such as Penn.

Penn Dining purchases many items that are locally produced, or organically produced or both, including:

  • Organic, grass-fed Black Angus beef
  • 100 percent Organic Moosewood soups and other products
  • Albert’s Organics products
  • Hand made artisan breads from the local Metropolitan Bakery
  • Sansom Street Pretzels, a local manufacturer of the City’s favorite snack
  • Fresh Mozzarella Cheese made on the premises of Claudio's, located in the Italian Market in South Philadelphia
  • Organic, minimally processed plant based, gluten free, all raw,vegan, organic cakes from Kind Cakes, operated by a local ICU nurse
  • Energy bars that are vegan, organic wheat free, and made with soy protein from Star Bars, operated by a West Philadelphia resident
  • Local produce from local farmers
  • Pennsylvania Cheddar Cheese
  • Pennsylvania bottled herbal organic iced teas from Honest Tea
  • Milk from Wawa Dairies, a regional dairy cooperative
Potatoes

Apples

UNIVERSITY SQUARE FARMERS' MARKET

Since 2004, the University Square Farmers’ Market has been held at the corner of 36th and Walnut Streets. The Market is open Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May through November. The Farmers’ Market offers neighbors and members of the Penn community an opportunity to purchase fresh, delicious food from local farmers and producers including:

  • Hilltop Farm - John King comes from Paradise, PA to sell a wide array of fruits, vegetables, baked goods, canned and preserved fruits and vegetables, eggs and cheese from his own farm as well as other local farms.
  • Beechwood Orchards - A fifth generation family-owned farm in Biglerville, PA, Beechwood sells berries, cherries, peaches, plums, apples and other fruits. In the fall, they also offer fresh apple cider.
  • Metropolitan Bakery - Philadelphia’s locally-owned old-world bread bakery sells freshly baked breads, cookies, granola and pastries as well as sandwiches and spreads.