GENUINE INSIGHTS: The Power of Local Partnerships

Genuine Foods believes in the power of local partnerships. In a recent Q&A, our Procurement Manager Livia Berg shared insights into the company’s approach to identifying and selecting local partners, sourcing unique products, and maintaining a strong commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.

Let's dive into the highlights!

How do you identify and select local partners to work with?

Our local partnerships start by working directly with local distributors. We lean on our distributors around the country and their direct farmer relationships to understand the seasonal availability of produce and products in each region. From there we work closely with our clients and regional on-site teams to understand what is locally important and relevant to each community. This is how we identified a local coffee brewer in the Pacific Northwest to meet the coffee culture needs of one of our community colleges, and how we knew Rockland Bakery would be the perfect partner for our New York customers who know what makes for the perfect bagel.

Can you provide examples of unique, locally specific products Genuine Foods has sourced from local partners in the past?

In addition to Portland Coffee Roasters in Oregon and Rockland Bakery in New York, we’ve also partnered with Vermont’s Runamok Maple to source the maple syrup used in our breakfast breads, as well as Furmano’s Foods beans, and Schweid & Sons ground beef, both family owned businesses, for our New York and DC K-12 client schools.

Schweid & Sons, New York

What is your process for assessing the quality and sustainability of products sourced from local partners?

We work with regional operators who are experts in their area to identify potential local partners with niche products. From there I connect directly with the partner, coordinate samples with our culinary team, and benchmark pricing to see how it fits into our menus. Part of the discussion with local vendors is learning about their background, how they started, their vision for their company, and how they support their community.

We learned that many smaller companies don't have third-party certifications for their sustainability efforts because of how burdensome it is to their operation, but they put so much time and effort into self-certifying and promoting sustainability throughout their business practices. While Portland Coffee Roasters isn’t Fair-Trade Certified, we got to see firsthand the work they do with small family farmers to support their community.

Can you describe any unique challenges you have encountered in working with local partners and sourcing locally specific products?

In some areas, like New Orleans, it is more difficult to source locally due to a lack of aggregator partners. We have to think about how to source products that are outside of the box, like the local catfish. Additionally, we will meet with organizations like the New Orleans Food Policy Council to learn how we can support the community and increase aggregation efforts for the local farm community.

Who are some of your favorite local partners and why do you enjoy working with them?

All of them! It's fun to learn the ins and outs of their businesses and small farms. They each have such a special touch and a passion for what they sell that you don't get otherwise.