Public sector food procurement initiative: Raising awareness

"There is a real commercial opportunity for the farming industry. However, if our producers are to play their part in this, Government and industry must work together to ensure that they can supply enough fresh and wholesome produce at the right price"

Sir Don Curry, chairman of the independent implementation group overseeing delivery of the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food

Publications

Second report on the proportion of domestically produced food used by Government departments and also supplied to hospitals and prisons under contracts negotiated by NHS Supply Chain and National Offender Management Service (previously HM Prison Service) - 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 (PDF 433 KB). The report updates last year’s report and reveals that the Government and its contractors have looked for opportunities to enable domestic producers to compete for supply contracts while also seeking to achieve value for money for the taxpayer and for those using the services provided. It is too early to show a trend but the indication is that the amount of domestically produced food consumed by Government departments in England is increasing.
Proportion of domestically produced food used by government departments and also supplied to hospitals and prisons under contracts negotiated by NHS Supply Chain and HM Prison Service - 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 (PDF 100 KB)
Figures in the report provide a rough guide to the amount of domestically produced food consumed by public sector bodies

Events

The Collaborative Food Procurement Conference: 24 March 2009 at the Birmingham International Conference Centre (ICC)
Register for your chance to hear about the latest developments in food procurement from leading experts; network with other food procurement professionals from across the public sector in England, and discover how to achieve significant savings and improve sustainability for your organisation.
http://www.online.ogcbuyingsolutions.gov.uk/bcm/aboutbuyingsolutions/eventsexternal

British Food Fortnight: 19 September - 4 October 2009
Public sector procurers are not allowed to discriminate against producers from other Member States under the EC rules and therefore cannot specify British food. However, the event coincides with harvest festival time when local produce is at its most plentiful and, by specifying food that is seasonally available, buyers should be able to achieve value for money by buying quality products at competitive prices.

PSFPI Share to Supply Events
English Farming and Food Partnerships are arranging a series of Share to Supply events to inform farmers of the potential benefits of collaborating to supply the public sector

Think Food and Farming (previous Year of Food and Farming)
Industry-led initiative aimed at helping children and young people learn about farming, cooking food, good nutrition

PSFPI alerts

12 January 2009: EU ban on sow stalls (PDF 30 KB)
Notice advising public bodies of the EU ban on sow stalls from 2013 and its implications for the procurement of pork and pig meat products.
4 February 2008: Eggs produced in conventional cages (PDF 20 KB)
Notice asking public sector bodies to consider the implications for their future buying of eggs and products containing eggs of the EU-wide ban on the use of conventional ‘battery’ (i.e. barren) cages for egg laying hens that comes into force from 1 January 2012.

Further information

PSFPI - other useful publications and sources (PDF 200 KB)

Page last modified: 30 January 2009
Page published: 2 November 2004