“Where does the school source its food from?”
“What criteria does Dewey use to select food suppliers?”
“Are the nutritional needs of every meal for the students adequately met?”
To address these concerns and provide transparent, accurate information, while also seeking the collaboration of valued parents in monitoring the quality of input food sources, The Dewey Schools annually organize visits to certain suppliers of vegetables and chicken for the school, such as ICP Food Joint Stock Company, Binh Minh Chicken Farm, and Bac Ha Clean Vegetable Farm.
Participating in this tour were representatives from the school, parents and students of TDS Tay Ho Tay and TDS Cau Giay, and chefs from various school campuses.
Discussing the criteria for selecting food suppliers, Ms. Le Thi Giang, Operations Manager 2 at TDS Tay Ho Tay, shared: “Dewey consistently filters and chooses food suppliers based on their genuine quality and reputation to provide the best-quality meals for our students. All Dewey suppliers must meet predetermined criteria, such as GAP and GlobalGAP, ensuring food safety and hygiene, transparent production processes, strict control, and proper labeling throughout processing and delivery. This ensures that the school can easily monitor and trace the sources of daily food inputs.”
At the three survey locations, parents, teachers, and students had the opportunity to meet with representatives from food suppliers and farm owners, gaining insights into every aspect of the supply chain for clean food:
ICP Food Joint Stock Company: a distributor of certified international and domestic standard clean food products, including Organic, GlobalGAP, VietGAP. They ensure the use of organic, biological, and ecological cultivation practices with rigorously controlled processes.
Bình Minh Chicken Farm: A source of clean poultry raised in a natural free-range model on hills/gardens. The primary feed consists of corn and rice bran, fermented with probiotics to stimulate intestinal health and enhance immunity against diseases.
Bac Ha Clean Vegetable Farm: Specializing in unique local vegetables and year-round temperate vegetables, cultivated according to the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) standards with highly effective quality monitoring systems, ensuring transparency.
Sharing her thoughts on the trip, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bach Ngoc, a parent of TDS Cau Giay student, expressed: “Today, I not only had the opportunity to visit but also directly learned about the standards and processes that ensure the safety, freshness, and nutritional richness of the food sources for Dewey. Especially during the visit to Binh Minh Chicken Farm, parents had the chance to assess and inspect the feed for the chickens, ensuring it is clean, with a clear and traceable origin. I am extremely reassured knowing that our children are consuming clean and traceable food every day!”
Mr. Do Minh Dan, a parent of TDS Tay Ho Tay student, expressed his enthusiasm, said, “Through this trip, we gained valuable experiences that allow us to feel more assured about the quality of our children’s meals. I highly appreciate the professionalism of the suppliers. The organic farm in Bac Ha, in particular, stood out to me. Their production process prioritizes organic methods, minimizes reliance on chemical fertilizers, and places a strong emphasis on using organic microorganisms. This has significantly bolstered our confidence in the food quality before it reaches the school.”
Following this tour, The Dewey Schools believe that parents now have a clearer understanding of the infrastructure, production processes, and quality control measures implemented by the food distributors. This knowledge instills confidence in the nutritious quality of the meals at school, contributing to the holistic development of their children.
