Farm-to-Desk: The Benefits of Local Produce to Office Environments
By Jack Shaw, senior writer and editor at Modded
Local ingredients are a recipe for success when subsidizing a corporate cafeteria. It makes sense for 21st-century companies to source locally on various levels. Fewer employers are doing it because the merits of domestically produced agricultural goods are widely underappreciated.
Thankfully, it’s never too late to do more business with farmers and ranchers than make global food manufacturers richer and reap the various benefits.
5 Benefits of Practicing Farm-to-Desk
Photo by Christian Mackie on Unsplash
Supply Chain Resilience
Entrepreneurs who have been in business since before COVID-19 know well that globalized supply chains are highly prone to disruption. Although the pandemic is over, many geopolitical events continue to make international partners less reliable.
For example, Russia’s Ukraine invasion has driven up vegetable oil and cereal prices, causing food insecurity in various countries. Even those who don’t directly buy from the world’s top sunflower seed, oil and meal producer and major corn and wheat exporter have felt the pinch.
Global conflict is a permanent destabilizing force in the cost of commodities, so reducing exposure to it is wise and prudent. Nearshoring is one of the strategies discerning business owners employ to build supply chain resilience.
Establishing a network of local suppliers makes corporations less susceptible to geopolitics. Putting food from farm to table is less logistically challenging when goods only have to move within a country’s borders.
Local agricultural products at a grocery store can cost more than their mass-produced counterparts. It’s because small-scale farmers receive less financial assistance from the government than industrial food manufacturers while contending with the same or higher costs.
Still, buying in bulk and eliminating intermediaries allow entrepreneurs to snag more favorable deals. Wholesale buyers present financial security, so farmers and ranchers can feel more motivated to reduce their margins in exchange for long-term business partnerships and regular orders.
Moreover, working with local food producers can boost supply chain visibility. Communication should be less of a barrier with domestic businesses, which is vital when implementing measures to collect supply-chain data and mapping processes.
A Hale and Hearty Workforce
Sourcing unprocessed and chemical-free produce is the best way to prepare flavorful dishes, encourage employees to eat fresh and keep them healthy. Seasonal crops lend diets more variety and satisfy the nutritional needs of those with dietary restrictions and fitness goals — like vegetarian muscle builders or carbo-loading vegans.
Offering what’s locally in season aligns with prevailing worker attitudes toward meals at work. About 73% of non-remote office employees make their food because it’s healthier. Suppose corporate cafeterias serve only fresh, locally sourced proteins, carbohydrates, veggies, fruits, herbs and spices at discounted prices. In that case, fewer people will personally cook and more will save money, time and energy.
A corporate menu filled with fresh and nutritious options may be a bargaining chip to negotiate for lower health insurance rates. Organizations that treat food like medicine can promote wellness, keep talent from getting sick, reduce claims and make insurers happy.
The ESG Factor
Local food sourcing is synonymous with minimal greenhouse gas emissions, helping sustainable corporations meet stringent environmental standards to obtain environmental, social and governance (ESG) certifications. These credentials have evolved from PR tools to generate good press and boost talent recruitment and retention. They prove to be excellent vehicles for fundraising.
ESG is expected to account for 40% of all investments by 2025. Getting certified can attract investors who are in it for the long term and build stock liquidity. If localizing food supply chains costs more money, corporations with various ESG initiatives can trade off increased overhead for additional investor capital.
Having a strong ESG program can minimize regulatory and legal interventions. Taking steps to contribute to sustainability and swell the coffers of local agriculture interests can reduce the risk of adverse government action and be on the good side of policymakers.
A Gesture of Good Neighborship
Actively supporting domestic agricultural producers promotes the neighborhood to residents. Aside from fostering a sense of community, it spurs the local economy and regional prosperity to benefit various business sector stakeholders.
Higher tax revenues allow the authorities to finance infrastructure projects. Smaller businesses are less capable of enduring the cost of transportation delays, so they stand to gain more from improved public assets than larger corporations. Ultimately, everybody wins when there’s more money to go around.
Maximizing the Merits of Eating Local
Buying produce grown and harvested in nearby zip codes feels right on more levels than importing from overseas foreign sellers. Using local food suppliers sometimes costs more on the surface, but its rewards usually outweigh and outnumber the risks.
Author Bio
Jack Shaw, the senior writer and editor at Modded, specializes in weaving together the threads of health and wellness with greater concerns about sustainability best practices and industry developments. With a commitment to providing actionable insights and empowering readers, Through his writing, Jack seeks to educate and inspire individuals on their journey toward more eco-friendly decisions.