On the Record: Varun Avasthi, of Sodexo, explains what s on the menu for Maine colleges mainebiz.biz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mainebiz.biz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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May 19, 2021
Sodexo, a Paris-based foodservice contractor and one of Maine s largest employers, will source as much as 80% of its lettuce products from Vertical Harvest Maine, a hydroponic urban farm, and the first vertical greenhouse in the U.S., according to a press release The produce will be served at all 14 Sodexo Maine partners, including collegiate campuses from Fort Kent to South Portland. Earlier this year, Sodexo pledged to spend at least $1 million at Maine farms and food producers in 2021. We are a global company that is committed to spending locally, Varun Avasthi, director of strategic partnerships, Sodexo, said in the press release. One challenge we face when sourcing local food is Maine s short outdoor growing season. The partnership with Vertical Harvest will be a game-changer for Sodexo s ability to buy fresh produce twelve months per year, Avasthi added.
Vertical Harvest multi-use development in Westbrook won t break ground until August, but food service provider
Sodexo is already prepared to reap as much as 80% of its lettuce products from the hydroponic indoor farm.
Sodexo announced this week it will serve Maine Vertical Harvest lettuce at all 14 of its partners, including on college campuses from Fort Kent to South Portland. Earlier this year, Sodexo pledged to spend at least $1 million at local Maine farms and food producers in 2021.
The four-story 70,000-square foot Vertical Harvest farm will be the first vertical farm in the U.S., and is being developed by Westbrook s