Sourcing Responsibly
Carolina Food Co. has taken important steps to advance our sourcing practices in a responsible and ethical way. To drive measureable change, we focus on the following areas:
Local food isn’t just better on your plate, it’s better for the community. Buying local food supports South Carolina farmers and keeps our businesses thriving. We’ve partnered with Senn Bros. Produce, Freshpoint, and Brasstown Beef to provide us with the freshest local fruits, vegetables and burgers. We strive to purchase products from local, independently-owned, minority-owned or women-owned businesses whenever possible.
We have high standards for the food we serve. That’s why we have high standards for the ingredients we buy. We purchase cage-free eggs, humanely-raised chicken and beef as well as seafood approved by the Monterrey Bay Seafood Watch.
Minimizing Waste
Carolina Food Co. models its waste reduction strategy after The Food Recovery Hierarchy developed by the EPA.
Recycling is a high priority for Gamecocks. We do our part by recycling cardboard, paper and plastic in our locations
Carolina Food Co. offers reusable to-go containers in all-you-care-to-eat dining halls. To check out a reusable container, you’ll need to show your personal QR code to the cashier and scan it. Then you’re all set! Bring back your reusable container to a designated return location and it will be checked back in.
Visit app.reusepass.com to activate your account.
Our team records food waste with software that analyzes data and predicts trends. This helps our chefs to plan for a specific number of guests and prepare the right amount of food.
We’ve diverted over 500 tons of organic waste away from landfills. ReSoil Compost removes compostable material from kitchens and special events. The compost enriches the land for gardens and farms throughout the Southeast.
Waste oil from our kitchens is converted into biodiesel with the help of Restaurant Technologies, Inc.
Local Partnership Feature: Seaside Farm
Warm sand, salty air, and the South Carolina Sun: a simple recipe for success. Over one hundred years ago, in the coastal salt marsh of Saint Helena Island, Gustav Sanders found the secret in the sand and established his tomato farm in 1903. A legacy upheld through his hard-working bloodline, five generations later, as Seaside Farm.
Farming runs deep in this family, and farmers are known for finding sustainable solutions
to tough problems. With access to millions of pounds of beautiful, yet unmarketable,
vine-ripe tomatoes, Seaside Farm created its own ready-for-market tomato products
that are picked, prepared, and bottled during harvest. Facing the issues head-on,
the Seaside Grown brand was born to reduce food waste and
develop a new market opportunity for small farmers. This fresh idea brings local flavor
to South Carolina cooking and eliminates 800 tons of food waste from the fields every
year.
Sustainability runs deep for the Carolina Food Co., too. Looking to support local
farmers and expand responsible sourcing efforts, the team in South Carolina set in
motion to build a partnership with Seaside Grown that reflects shared values of sustainability,
fresh flavor, and outstanding service. The culinary teams created
delicious recipes that utilize the excess tomatoes from Seaside Farm to further reduce
food waste in our six all-you-care-to- eat dining halls. Fresh, quality recipes,
like Spaghetti – made with Seaside Grown Marinara and Plant Forward meatballs
– that provide delicious and sustainable dishes to the students of South Carolina.
Together, Carolina Food Co. and Seaside Grown are innovating with culinary excellence and sustainability to create a more flavorful and sustainable future for our guests