In continuing support of the National Park Service’s (NPS) Healthy Parks Healthy People US initiative, the Institute at the Golden Gate has released the second in a series of reports addressing ways parks across the U.S. can best implement sustainable and healthy food practices. Expanding on case studies highlighted in the Institute’s initial 2010 report on food in parks, Food for the Parks: A Roadmap to Success provides specific guidance on ways parks can make incremental improvements in healthy and sustainable food procurement, green operations and methods of evaluation that can be used by operators and concessioners in parks of all sizes across the country.

In announcing the release of the report, NPS Director Jon Jarvis said, “The health of our planet is directly related to our own health—as much as to the health of our parks and protected areas. Together, parks and concessioners have the opportunity and the responsibility to be leaders in providing healthy foods and promoting sustainable practices for positive environmental education and action.”

The new report aims to provide options that can be implemented by any organization serving food to large numbers of people, regardless of size, location or existing sustainability initiatives. The report includes testimonials and recommendations from organizations ranging from Stanford University to food service providers ARAMARK and Xanterra, to smaller-scale operations such as DC Central Kitchen in Washington and Whoa Nellie Deli near Yosemite National Park. Recognizing that all regions vary in terms of local food access and climate, the report encourages park food providers to think differently about the topic of sustainability, to start with small steps building toward long-term goals and to learn from others through collaboration and partnerships.

Offering healthier food in parks is also a priority for “Let’s Move!,” First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative to end childhood obesity. In a 2010 report, The White House Childhood Obesity Task Force established by the First Lady has recommended that publicly and privately managed facilities that serve children, including national parks, implement policies to increase the availability of healthy foods.

The Institute at the Golden Gate’s work in the arena of food and the parks complements a wider movement that recognizes the importance of sustainability in food service provision nationwide. With more than 10,000 local, state and national parks across the country, and the billions of meals served annually to park visitors, park systems represent a unique opportunity to educate visitors and communities on the connection between healthy, sustainable foods and public health. The Institute’s Food for the Parks: A Roadmap to Success report comes at a time when the National Park Service has committed to a new service-wide Healthy Foods Strategy, to provide healthy and sustainable food options to all national park visitors. Increased consumer demand for locally grown foods, coupled with significant evidence that sustainable practices can increase profits by reducing waste streams and managing portions, illustrate that serving healthy foods is both feasible and profitable.

The Institute encourages readers to download Food for the Parks: A Roadmap to Success, read it, share it, and most importantly, to use it. The complete report can be accessed at www.instituteatgoldengate.org or on the Institute’s companion website www.parkshealthguide.org, an open-source online platform designed to facilitate collaboration and education between the growing number of programs across the U.S. utilizing parks and public lands as catalysts to better health. To request a hard copy of the report, please email the Institute at the Golden Gate at food@instituteatgoldengate.org.

About the Institute at the Golden Gate

The Institute at the Golden Gate advances environmental preservation and global sustainability by facilitating cross-sector dialogue and collaboration, encouraging new partnerships, and promoting action. The Institute is a program of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the nonprofit partner working in partnership with the National Park Service to advance the connection of national parks, protected areas, and public lands to meet broad societal and environmental needs and benefits. Working alongside Cavallo Point-the Lodge at the Golden Gate, the Institute brokers and convenes conferences to help forge solutions by gathering policy makers, scientists, youth activists, and business leaders in an exceptional and inspirational setting at Fort Baker. Please visit www.instituteatgoldengate.org or call (415) 561-3560 for more information.

Institute at the Golden Gate

Institute at the Golden Gate

The Institute at the Golden Gate advances environmental preservation and global sustainability by facilitating cross-sector dialogue and collaboration, encouraging new partnerships, and promoting action. The Institute is a program of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the nonprofit partner working in partnership with the National Park Service to advance the connection of national parks, protected areas, and public lands to meet broad societal and environmental needs and benefits. Working alongside Cavallo Point-the Lodge at the Golden Gate, the Institute brokers and convenes conferences to help forge solutions by gathering policy makers, scientists, youth activists, and business leaders in an exceptional and inspirational setting at Fort Baker.

More from Institute at the Golden Gate