The university and its preferred partner, Compass Group, have formed a group purchasing organization that will create a more predictable market for farmers and increase access to Kentucky’s agricultural products.
The University of Kentucky and its preferred partner, Compass Group, have come together to form a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) to benefit farmers in the region and Kentucky as a whole. Compass Group, which is a food management and support services company, will work with the university to create a more predictable market for farmers and increase access to Kentucky’s agricultural products.
According to an article on the University of Kentucky’s website, Blair Choate, who serves as the senior vice president, Compass Group at the University of Kentucky, was quoted as saying of the new initiative, “We understand the important role farmers and food producers play throughout Kentucky communities. By combining the University of Kentucky’s reach with our purchasing expertise, we can help create new opportunities for Kentucky-grown products to reach schools, healthcare organizations and other institutions across the state. Building on relationships already in place and expanding access to new markets, we can further support local producers, strengthen Kentucky’s food system and help communities across the Commonwealth continue to thrive.”
The GPO will help connect the state’s farmers to consistent buyers, including the University of Kentucky, to ensure their agricultural products are being utilized consistently and on a large scale. The initiative will also work to create community partnerships that will reduce costs on food and supplies. By increasing purchasing within the state, the initiative will also stimulate the economy and keep Kentucky-made products within Kentucky.
Eric Monday, who serves as the executive vice president for finance and administration and co-executive vice president for health affairs, said, “This is about building a stronger economy for the whole Commonwealth. When we create more paths for Kentucky farmers and food businesses to grow, we also strengthen our supply chains, support local communities and keep more of that economic activity here at home. That is good business for UK and good business for the entire state.”
University President Eli Capilouto echoed these sentiments, saying, “This is about putting Kentucky first and using the scale we have at the university level to support the entire Commonwealth. We are creating a system where we can be a good partner to our farmers, our local organizations and our communities to help them grow.”
The initiative builds upon the work of The Food Connection, which is the university’s local food systems institute. The Food Connection works with farmers and food producers to connect them to wholesale and institutional markets.
Ashton Potter, the executive director of The Food Connection, said, “We’ve seen the value in providing practical support for farmers, from food safety to market access, so they can grow and succeed. We are excited for the opportunity this partnership has, to help even more local producers become wholesale-ready and ensure more Kentucky-grown food reaches our campuses and communities.”
The details of the GPO are still being solidified, but Compass Group and the university are already working together on several other initiatives, including the launching of a mobile food service to take food, education, healthcare, and other resources to individuals around the state, and lowered prices on student meal plans and concessions at sporting events.
For more information about the University of Kentucky, visit the schools’ website.