One key aspect of Parkhurst’s local sourcing philosophy, Know Your Source, is our FarmSource® program designed to build meaningful relationships with local and regional growers, producers, farms, and fisheries. Such partnerships allow us the ability to serve fresh produce, seafood, dairy, and meat from partners local to our operating region.
As a result, our chefs can craft menus that feel fresh, seasonal, transparent, and locally connected while maintaining the consistency, quality, and operational standards expected across our dining programs. Additionally, our guests can have a better understanding of where their food comes from, who is behind it, and how it impacts the local community.
Local Partnerships for Fresh Sourcing
Before we can source fresh, high-quality ingredients that reflect the local communities, we first must establish local and regional partnerships. By connecting with local partners that align with our FarmSource® philosophies, we can bring fresher ingredients to our Parkhurst kitchens while supporting the farmers, producers, and food systems that help define the communities we serve.
Kreider Farms
One farming partner that shares our FarmSource® philosophy is Kreider Farms, a third-generation, family-owned agricultural operation with roots dating back to 1935. Their story began on just 102 acres with a small dairy herd and a flock of chickens. Over the years, Kreider Farms grew into an expanded farm with a diversified operation, producing milk, eggs, ice cream, and other farm-fresh products.
Today, Kreider Farms spans approximately 3,000 acres and remains guided by the same values of quality, hard work, innovation, and ethical stewardship that shaped its early years. This commitment to producing high-quality products while investing in the future of agriculture aligns closely with Parkhurst’s philosophy, cultivating the path to a meaningful partnership and thoughtfully sourced food items for our scratch-made menus.
John Spyker, Director of Sales at Kreider Farms, expressed, “At Kreider Farms, we’re proud to partner with an organization that values knowing where food comes from and the people who produce it. Parkhurst’s commitment to quality, transparency, and local sourcing aligns closely with our own values. We are honored to help bring fresh, wholesome egg and dairy products from our fourth-generation family farm to students and communities every day.”
Prairie Farms
Another FarmSource® partner we are proud to partner with is Prairie Farms. This farmer-owned dairy cooperative has been supporting family farms since 1938. Today, more than 500 farm families own Prairie Farms, many with multi-generational farming histories.
This cooperative is dedicated to producing high-quality dairy products while maintaining strong commitments to animal care, food safety, sustainability, and community support.
Rick Riley, Sales Manager for Prairie Farms, shared, “We pride ourselves on sourcing our dairy locally and delivering quality products throughout our service area. That works well with [Parkhurst] wanting a local partner, and we appreciate their support. As Parkhurst continues to grow in this area, we look forward to providing quality dairy products to their clients!”
Prairie Farms’ mission centers on producing quality products with integrity, exceeding customer expectations, supporting local communities, and delivering value back to the farm families who own the cooperative. This mission not only aligns with Parkhurst’s FarmSource® philosophy, but it also helps strengthen local communities and regional food systems.
Red Gold
Red Gold, a family-owned tomato company, is another Farmsource® partner dedicated to providing fresh and delicious tomato products. For more than 80 years, this fourth-generation company has been working alongside Midwestern farm families to grow and can premium tomatoes. Their story began in 1942, when the Hutcherson family started producing canned tomatoes to feed the troops during the war. Since then, this partnership with local growers has grown into a network of family farms that remain central to Red Gold’s business today.
Red Gold’s ongoing commitment to providing quality tomatoes with vibrant flavor, maintaining long-term relationships, and supporting agricultural stewardship closely align with Parkhurst’s FarmSource® philosophy and our commitment to knowing where our food comes from.
Supporting the Growth of Local Businesses
Local partnerships not only allow us to source food in responsible and meaningful ways, but they also allow us to invest in the people growing, raising, and catching the ingredients that shape our Parkhurst menus. By closely working with FarmSource® partners, we support the growth of smaller producers as well as operational readiness and responsible scaling. Ultimately, this helps promote a stronger, more sustainable food system in our entire region.
Discover more about our Know Your Source program and how our FarmSource® partners bring fresh, local ingredients to the plate.
