Carleton College in Northfield is one of the nation's top private liberal arts colleges. Not only is it a leader in higher education, Carleton is striving to be a model of environmental stewardship by incorporating ideas of sustainability into the operations of the college and the daily lives of its students, faculty, and staff.
One example is the partnership that has developed between Carleton, Sodexho Campus Services, Food Alliance Midwest, and local producers. Through this partnership, students and staff are able to enjoy sustainably, locally grown foods in campus cafeterias and dining halls. Near the center of this partnership is Dining Services Executive Chef Mick White. Having grown up on a family farm in southern Minnesota, Mick quickly embraced the opportunity to offer students sustainably-grown food from the region. His experience growing up on a farm, combined with his training and experience as a chef, has infused in him the values of fresh, local foods.
One of the local producers Mick works with is Gilbertson Farms. Owners Gary and Annette Gilbertson, who farm in Scandia, use sustainable practices to grow a variety of vegetables on their land. In their community, where housing developments are quickly taking over farmland, Gary and Annette take an active role in sharing their heritage of the land and educating neighbors and customers about local agriculture. Their love of the land comes through in their superior sweet corn and other vegetables that Chef Mick is able to serve to the students at Carleton.
