Sustainability

Group of Green Associates posed and smiling

Members of the Green Advisors program, who work in close partnership with the Dining team on waste management efforts.

Our dining program supports the College's commitment to sustainability by sourcing locally produced foods, reducing waste, and conserving resources.

With the opening of the new Dining Center in October 2022, we will operate in a space built with the latest in sustainable technologies, that will be powered by all-electric energy from renewable resources. The Dining Center will be part of the new Dining and Community Commons, which you can learn more about here.

Compost and Waste Reduction | Local Food | Our Locally Based Food Distributors 

Compost and Waste Reduction

As part of a campus-wide initiative, waste, both from our campus kitchens and post-consumer sources are part of the College’s composting program. Additionally, our dining locations all offer compostable to-go packaging. We work with Kitchen Harvest, a local, family-owned business run by a passionate husband and wife team who "enjoy making good dirt". The compost is processed and used at a family farm located in Middletown, PA. Through this program, we divert 75 pounds of compostable material a day on average. Some further steps that we've taken to reduce waste.

  • We no longer offer plastic water bottles with our Grab-n-Go program, our catering, or at our retail locations. Instead, we encouraging our diners to bring their own drinking vessels and fill them from a dispenser. Community members may also purchase cans of aluminum water that can be recycled. This practice, along with the dispensers of fruit infused water available for most catered events, has helped us to divert an average of 960 plastic bottles a week from landfills.
  • We recycle our used vegetable oil with Restaurant Technologies Incorporated, a system that dramatically reduces the oil and related packaging sent to landfills by recycling used oil into biodiesel or animal feed in an efficient and scalable manner.
  • We provide compostable to-go containers at the dining hall and compostable to-go coffee cups and utensils at all of our campus venues.
  • We have been piloting a reusable takeout container program that will help reduce the use of single-use containers on campus.

Local Food

A visit to our campus dining facilities will put you in contact with a variety of locally produced delicacies. Whether it is a cage-free egg from Sandy Ridge Farm, bread from Le Bus Bakery, a fresh apple from Beechwood Orchards or a cold glass of milk from Wawa Dairy, you will taste the difference.

In addition to buying directly from local food producers, our Dining team is proud to work with a number of local, privately owned and operated food distributors. Each of these companies feature locally produced items, provide employment to area residents, and support their communities. For example our main grocery supplier, Feesers Food Distributors, is based in Harrisburg, PA and in turn provides us with many local brands. Explore this page for more information on each of our local food service providers

Our Locally Based Food Distributors

American Beauty Fish & Produce

Phone number: 610-431-1477
Email: AmericanBeauty341@gmail.com

American Beauty Fish and Produce has been Swarthmore’s main produce purveyor for the past five years. American Beauty is based locally in West Chester, PA, and sources many of its products from the Weaverland Auction in Lancaster County during the peak growing season in PA. They also source vegetables from farms further afield, around the country and internationally as well, through the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market.

BK Specialty Foods Distributor

Phone number: 1-800-354-9445
Website: bkfoods.com

Based in Swedesboro NJ, BK Specialty Foods is a family owned business that provides a variety of fresh, dry and frozen food products from all over the world to colleges, hotels, retail markets, restaurants and corporate food service in the Mid-Atlantic.

Esposito Inc. Meats

Phone number: 215-922-2659
Email: sales@espositosmeats.com
Website: espositosmeats.com

Esposito Meats is based in Philadelphia’s Italian Market, and is a family owned meat distributor. As a PA preferred company, they work with local PA farmers to provide fresh and local products. They also provide beef, pork, veal, lamb and poultry from PA, Australia and New Zealand.

Petro’s Bread Distributors

Phone number: 215 625-9272
Website: petrosbread.com

Petro’s Bread Distributors is owned and operated by the Trantas family, based in Philadelphia, and “has proudly served the tri-state area since 1985.” Petro’s Distributes bread from a wide variety of local and regional bakeries, and they have a wide reach, providing baked goods for smaller vendors as well as large universities and hospitals. For a more complete list of the suppliers that they distribute for visit their website.

Philadelphia Bakery Merchants

Phone number: 610-449-5763
Website: philabakerymerchants.com

The Philadelphia Bakery Merchants is a family owned and operated company, self-described as a “wholesale distributor for the 10 best bakeries in the Philadelphia Metro area.” They reliably distribute bread from renown local bakeries such as Baker Street Bread, LeBus Bakery, and Aversa’s Bakery to their customers. For a fuller list of providers that they distributor for, visit their website.

Feeser’s Food Distributors

Phone number: 1-800-326-2828
Website: www.feesers.com

Feeser’s Inc. is a family owned and operated local food distribution company that is based in Harrisburg PA. Operating from 275,000 square ft. of warehouse facilities, Feeser’s “offers a wide variety of nationally branded grocery, frozen and refrigerated items to their customers.” Feeser’s “is dedicated to developing and growing our business in a manner that has minimal impact on the environment.” To learn more about how Feeser’s has worked to reduce its environmental impact visit www.feesers.com/content/green-initiative.

Common Market Local Foods

Phone number: 215-275-3435
Email: info@thecommonmarket.org
Website: thecommonmarket.org

The Common Market is a food distribution center located in North Philadelphia with the aim of connecting local farmers with institutions such as restaurants, schools and hospitals in the Philadelphia area, and distributing products from local farmers to these institutions. The Common Market provides only local and seasonally available products, and has worked closely with Swarthmore Dining in past years to provide locally sourced products to supplement our menu on the Harvest Dinner night, as well as at the Community Gathering in the fall.

Neshaminy Valley Natural Foods

Please contact the Swarthmore Dining team for more information.

Local Brands We Obtain from Feeser's Food Distributors

Atlantic Blueberry Co

Phone number: 609-561-8600
Email: staff@atlanticblueberry.com
Website: www.atlanticblueberry.com

Atlantic Blueberry Co. is based inHammonton, NJ.​

ASK Foods Inc.

Phone number: 717-838-6356
Website: www.askfoods.com/aboutus.html

ASK Foods Inc., Palmyra, PA

Berks Company Inc.

Phone number: 800-882-3757
Email: marketingdept@berksfoods.com
Website: www.berksfoods.com/about-us/

Berks Company Inc. is based in Reading, PA.

B&G Foods

Phone number: 800-811-8975
Website: www.bgfoods.com/about

B&G Foods is based in Parsippany, NJ.

Caesar’s Pasta Products

Phone number: 888-43-CAESAR
Email: caesars@caesarspasta.com
Website: www.caesarspasta.com

Caesar’s Pasta Products is based in Blackwood, NJ

Deb-El Foods

Phone number: 908-351-0330
Email: info@debelfoods.com
Website: www.debelfoods.com

Deb-El Foods is based in Elizabeth, NJ.

Chianti Cheeses

Phone number: 609-894-0900
Website: kantnergroup.com/html/cproducts.htm

Chianti Cheeses is based in Pemberton, NJ

Good Food Inc.,

Phone number: 800-327-4406 or 610-273-3776
Email: info@goldenbarrel.com
Website: www.goodfoodinc.org

Good Food Inc. is based in Honey Brook, PA.

Giorgio Mushrooms

Phone number: 610-926-2139
Website: agmap.psu.edu/Businesses/index.cfm?fid=2598

Giorgio Mushrooms is based in Temple, PA.

Great Lakes Cheese

Phone number: 440-834-2500
Email: glcinfo@greatlakescheese.com
Website: www.greatlakescheese.com/

Great Lakes Cheese is based in Hiram, OH.

Hadley Farms Bakery

Phone number: 800-346-3494 or 301-824-2558
Website: www.hadleyfarms.com

Hadley Farms Bakery is based in Smithsburg, MD.

Hanover Foods

Phone number: 717-632-6000
Website: hanoverfoods.com

Hanover Foods is based in Hanover, PA.

H.B. Hunter Co

H.B. Hunter Co. is based in Norfolk, VA.

Herr’s Foods

Phone number: 610-932-9330
Website: www.herrs.com

Herr’s Foods, Nottingham, PA

H.J. Heinz Company

Phone number (HQ): 800-255-5750
Website: www.heinz.com

H.J. Heinz Company is based in Pittsburgh, PA.

Hope’s Cookies

Phone number: 888-266-5439
Website: www.hopescookies.com/home

Hope’s Cookies, Rosemont, PA

Joy Cone Co.

Phone number: 724-962-5747
Website: www.joycone.com

Joy Cone Co. is based in Hermitage, PA.

Keystone Food Products

Keystone Food Products is based in Easton, PA.

McCormick & Co. Inc.

Phone number: 410-527-6189
Website: www.mccormickcorporation.com

McCormick & Co. Inc. is based in Hunt Valley, MD.

RC Fine Foods

Phone number: 908-359-5500
Email: cs@rcfinefoods.com
Website: rcfinefoods.com

RC Fine Foods is based in Belle Meade, NJ.

Abuelita Mexican Foods

Phone number: 703-369-1730
Email: office@abuelita.com
Website: www.abuelita.com/about-us/news/

Abuelita Mexican Foods is based in Manassas, VA.

Bachman Company

Phone number: 717-637-6644
Website: www.utzsnacks.com/pages/bachman

Bachman Company is based in Reading, PA

Devault Meats

Phone number: 800-HAM-BURG
Website: www.devaultfoods.com/

Devault Meats, Devault, PA

Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods

Phone number: 201-703-1300
Email: info@drpraegers.com
Website: drpraegers.com/

Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods is based in Elmwood, NJ.

Furmano’s

Phone number: 877-877-6032
Website: www.furmanos.com

Furmano’s is based in Northumberland, PA.

Joyva Tahini

Phone number: 718-497-0170
Email: info@joyva.com

Joyva Tahini, New York, NY

Kargher Corporation

Phone number: 215-822-1186

Kargher Corporation, Hatfield, PA

Knouse Foods Co-Op Inc.

Phone number: 610-258-0888
Website: www.keystonesnacks.com

Knouse Foods Co-Op Inc. is based in Peach Glen, PA.

Kunzler Meats

Phone number: 1-888-586-9537
Email: customerservice@kunzler.com
Website: www.kunzler.com

Kunzler Meats is based in Lancaster, PA.

LaMonica Fine Foods

Phone number: 856-825-8111
Website: www.lamonicafinefoods.com

LaMonica Fine Foods, Millville, NJ.

Montena Taranto Foods

Phone number: 201-943-8484
Email: info@montenatarantofoods.com
Website: montenatarantofoods.com

Montena Taranto Foods is based in Ridgefield, NJ.

Mrs. T’s Pierogies

Phone number: 800-743-7649
Email: ConsumerContact@pierogies.com
Website: www.mrstspierogies.com/Recipes

Mrs. T’s Pierogies, Shenandoah, PA.

Rosina Foods

Phone number: 1(888) 767-4621
Email: cservice@rosina.com
Website: www.rosina.com

Rosina Foods is based in Buffalo, NY

Utz Quality Foods

Phone number: 717-637-6644
Website: www.utzsnacks.com

Utz Quality Foods is based in Hanover, PA.

O-AT-KA Milk Products Cooperative

Phone number: 585-343-0536
Website: oatkamilk.com

O-AT-KA Milk Products Cooperative is based in Batavia, NY.

Upstate Niagara Cooperative

Phone number: 716-892-3156
Website: upstatefarmsfs.com/home

Upstate Niagara Cooperative is based in Buffalo, NY

Local Brands We Purchase From Directly

Beechwood Orchards

Phone number: (717) 677-6536
Email: info@beechwoodorchards.net
Website: www.beechwoodorchards.net

Beechwood Orchards is based in Biglerville, PA.

Fresh Tofu Inc.

Phone number: 610-433-4711
Email: info@freshtofu.com
Website: www.freshtofu.com

Fresh Tofu Inc. is based in Allentown, PA

Original Bagel

Phone number: 610-353-9600

Original Bagel is based in Broomall, PA

Sandy Ridge Farm

Phone number: 215-340-1042
Website: facebook.com/sandyridgefarmmarket/

Sandy Ridge Farm is based in Elizabethtown, PA

Kyj’s Bakery

Phone number: 610-494-9400

Kyj’s Bakery is based in Chester, PA

Wawa Dairy

Phone number: 800-444-9292
Website: www.wawa.com

Wawa Dairy is one of the region's most well known and popular food service providers. Wawa Dairy is based in Wawa, PA.​

Local Brands We Obtain from our Bread Distributors

Baker Street

Phone number: 215.248.2500
Email: wholesale@bakerstreetbread.com
Website: www.bakerstreetbread.com

Baker Street is based in Philadelphia, PA.

Le Bus Bakery

Phone number: (610) 337-1444
Website: lebusbakery.com

Le Bus Bakery is based in Philadelphia, PA.

Conshohocken Bakery

Phone number: (610) 825-9334
Email: info@conshybakery.com
Website: www.conshybakery.com

Conshohocken Bakery is based in Conshohocken, PA.

Kontos Foods Inc.

Website: www.kontos.com

Kontos Foods Inc. is based in Paterson, NJ.

Soumaya & Sons Bakery

Phone number: 610-432-0405
Email: soumayabakery@hotmail.com
Website: www.soumayasonsbakery.com

Soumaya & Sons Bakery is based in Whitehall, PA.

AVERSA'S Bakery

Phone number: 856-227-8005
Email: ralphaversa@aversasbakery.com
Website: www.aversasbakery.com