Public catering
Over 50% of the food consumed in the UK is served through public catering outlets, such as schools, hospitals, pubs and restaurants. Growing concerns over the nutritional quality of school and hospital meals - highlighted by Jamie Oliver's TV campaign - have significantly raised public and political interest in this area over recent years.
While the public can now choose to buy organic food to eat at home they still have had little or no organic choice when eating out. From the farming and growing persepective, supplying organic food to catering outlets has proved almost impossible for most - and certainly not at viable prices for the few who manage to get a foot in the door. The Soil Association is working with schools and hospitals to improve their 'food offer' - and to open up these markets to the organic farming and growing community. The Food for Life catering mark will result in new market opportunities for organic farmers and growers.