By Ana Mulero
Because of their buying power and the millions of meals they serve, Oregon hospitals could have a huge effect on local farms if they purchased their food products, Capital Press reported. In Oregon, institutional food service departments serve approximately 40 million meals a year, according to Ecotrust, a Portland non-profit that examined investment opportunities in the food market. The combined effort of institutions and producers to bolster local farms would have a significant impact on the domestic food system. The Oregon Health and Science University has already adopted this practice, serving locally grown and processed food to patients within the facility. Article