SALEM, OR., - June 4, 2008 - The collegiate dining hall is changing, and changing for good as sustainability and "menu ethics" begin to dominate discussion among college and university foodservice professionals. But how does a college embrace sourcing sustainably grown and processed foods when budgets are tight? How does a university reduce its carbon footprints in the kitchen and manage the logistics of serving seasonal food year round? How do you sort through the proliferation of third-party certifications and fair trade claims?

To address these monumental challenges and more, Truitt Bros., Inc., a Food Alliance certified food processor based in Oregon, is bringing together a network of green-minded producers, suppliers and services to host Farm-2-Fork, an evening of networking, education, and mouth-watering food on Thursday, July 10, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the acclaimed Agraria Restaurant in Washington, D.C. The event coincides with the 2008 National NACUFS Conference, which brings together thousands of professionals from the collegiate foodservice industry.

"No foodservice professional can afford to ignore this fundamental shift in how students think about food choices and the environment today," said Peter Truitt, president of Truitt Bros., Inc. "Concern about how food is produced and where it comes from is the hottest issue we in the food industry face today, so we’re offering a venue and opportunity for the college and university foodservice industry to talk and share experiences about creative, cutting-edge approaches to greening the campus dining experience "“ starting with the center of the plate."

"Students want to make healthy, socially responsible and environmentally sound choices when they sit down to each meal," said Arlin Wasserman, vice president of Corporate Citizenship at Sodexo. "In partnership with the colleges and universities we serve, we work to make sure our dining halls and cafes reflect the values of their students. We work together to support local and sustainable agriculture, promote community development, and employ the best approaches to protect and restore our natural resources."

Suppliers known for ethical and delicious food will be on hand to answer questions and share their extensive, collective experience with college foodservice personnel. Along with Truitt Bros, presenters of Farm-2-Fork include, FreeBird Chicken, Plainville Farms, Hain Celestial Foods, Clif Bar/Clif Bar Family Winery & Farm, Organic Valley Family of Farms, Niman Ranch, Nestle Waters, Shepherd's Grain, Wild Planet seafood, Thousand Hills Cattle Co., Divine Chocolate, Pura Vida fair trade coffee, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Biodegradable Food Service. In addition, leading foodservice contract management company Sodexo will participate, along with educational partners Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, Food Alliance and the Campus Kitchens Project.

For more information about attending the Farm-2-Fork event, call 800.547.8712, ext. 211, or visit http://www.truittbros.com/familyfarms/mail.html

About Truitt Bros.

Operated by brothers David and Peter Truitt in Salem, Oregon, Truitt Bros. is a third-generation family-owned food processor. Leaders in bringing quality and innovation to the industry, Truitt Bros. provides shelf stable products for a wide variety of establishments, from restaurants and businesses to health care and retailers. As part of their commitment to preservation of wildlife and natural resource as well as positive employee relations and sound manufacturing practices, Truitt Bros. became the first Food Alliance certified processor in the country in May of 2006. For more information, visit: www.truittbros.com. For more information about Food Alliance certification, visit www.foodalliance.org.

About Sodexo, Inc.

Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com) is a leading integrated food and facilities management services company in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with $7.3 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees. Sodexo, Inc. serves more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government and remote sites. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., is a member of Sodexo Group, and funds the Sodexo Foundation (www.helpstophunger.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $9.2 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Sodexo's food and environmental platform in North America focuses on sourcing and providing locally grown foods, improving nutrition, promoting local economies, energy conservation and carbon reduction, reducing the use of toxic chemicals, integrated waste management and minimizing packaging.

Truitt Bros., Inc.

Truitt Bros., Inc.

Operated by brothers David and Peter Truitt in Salem, Oregon, Truitt Bros. is a third-generation family-owned food processor. Leaders in bringing quality and innovation to the industry, Truitt Bros. provides shelf stable products for a wide variety of establishments, from restaurants and businesses to health care and retailers. As part of their commitment to preservation of wildlife and natural resource as well as positive employee relations and sound manufacturing practices, Truitt Bros. became the first Food Alliance certified processor in the country in May of 2006.

More from Truitt Bros., Inc.