Foodservice Facilities at Anchor Institutions Raising the Bar

With almost 80 designated sustainable restaurants, the Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant performance program is growing.  Among newest establishments to join the sustainable community are four UPMC cafeterias and Hogan Dining at Duquesne University, the first foodservice facilities to have earned sustainable designation from Sustainable Pittsburgh for their commitments to the environment, community, and economy.

UPMC Presbyterian Cafeteria, UPMC Passavant McCandless Cafeteria, and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC Cafeteria all boast Silver Plates of Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant designation.  Magee-Womens Hospital Cafeteria/Gardenview Cafe comes in as the fourth UPMC foodservice facility to earn designation with its Gold Plate standing.  All are actively working to improve the sustainability of the region in various, unique ways.

UPMC Presbyterian Cafeteria is partnered with Freedom Farms to host weekly farmers market onsite, bringing in local products from eggs to jarred items like honey and even locally produced meats.  UPMC Passavant McCandless Cafeteria is partnered with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s Community Table food donation program to help get healthy food to those who really need it.  Along those same lines, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC Cafeteria provides cooking classes and health and wellness education for the community and families through the Allegheny County Family Support Network.  At Magee-Womens Hospital Cafeteria/Gardenview Cafe, three onsite gardens produce food used in meals served at the facility.  The spring of 2018 will bring two beehives to their rooftop.

Hogan Dining at Duquesne University hails as the first university foodservice to earn Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant designation with its Gold Plate recognition.  Displaying their commitments to energy efficiency, the University has a co-generation plant on-site, with power purchases coming from clean or renewable energy sources.  Serviced by Parkhurst, Hogan Dining at Duquesne University also sources more than 40% of its produce and 50% of its meats from within a 400-mile radius.

Sustainable Pittsburgh congratulates these long-standing, local, anchor institutions for their leadership in committing to build a stronger, more resilient region for the future of southwestern PA and looks forward for others to follow in the movement toward a more sustainable restaurant industry.

Be sure to put your values where your mouth is by dining at a Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant.  We’ve made it easy to locate your restaurant of sustainability choice. Visit the restaurant finder (http://sustainablepghrestaurants.org/site/restaurant-finder/) to help you choose your next meal.