Meal time

Community kitchens focus on regionality

More and more regional food is being served in Vorarlberg's canteen kitchens. The state project "Vorarlberg am Teller" continues to grow. 

How do you get communal kitchens to serve more regional food? The state launched its "Vorarlberg am Teller" initiative in 2017, when just four businesses took part; by 2023, there were 42. That's 14 businesses or 500,000 meals more than in the previous year.

Depending on how much regionality actually ends up on the plate, the kitchens are awarded bronze, silver, gold or platinum. The FH canteen (platinum), the Senecura Social Center Dornbirn (gold), Aquamühle (silver) and the Egg Social Center (bronze), for example, can look forward to precious metal.

Of course, the initiative also benefits local farmers, who gain planning and purchasing security as a result. For Provincial Councillor Christian Gantner (ÖVP), the model is certainly a success: "Promoting the use of high-quality, regional products in communal catering, especially in educational and care facilities, is a central concern that is also anchored in our agricultural strategy 'Landwirt.schafft.Leben'," he explains proudly and thanks all those involved for implementing the initiative.