Pandion Local Produce Procurement Pilot
For the past few months, Terry Ovenshire, Director of Food Service and Business Development at Pandion Optimization Alliance, has been working with a foodservice committee of members from the Buffalo, Rochester, and Finger Lakes areas who are interested in buying local foods for their institutions but have been frustrated in the past by price, volume, and uncertain traceability. Working alongside Marla Guarino from Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and Cheryl Thayer of Cornell Cooperative Extension, Pandion has developed and awarded a bid to answer these challenges.
The Problem
Making a direct connection to a farm fresh produce provider is difficult for institutions. Availability, pricing, variety, and logistics are common challenges in switching to local, farm fresh produce.
The Process
This past Fall, Pandion, along with the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, formed a subcommittee of hospitals and Pandion Affiliates in Rochester, Buffalo, and the Finger Lakes with the goal of improving the quality of produce for their patients.
Terry Ovenshire, Director of Food Service and Business Development at Pandion led the Committee through the vendor bidding and selection process with assistance from Marla Guarino, Farm to Institution Catalyst at Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc.
The resulting program is a one of a kind digital health solution with best-in-class priced Farm Fresh Local Produce.
The Solution
The awarded vendor offers an online ordering platform that allows growers to sell their products to the institution or restaurant.
The transparent, 100% traceable platform allows customers to order direct from growers and pay with a credit card or through a PO & check payment, closing the gap and fulfilling the need for smaller, more specialized orders.