The food trade is flexible and adapts to customer demand. This is a first conclusion that can be drawn from the efforts made so far to offer more products that originate from Luxembourg agriculture in canteens (schools, university, childcare, old people’s homes, hospitals). By 2025, 50 % of the food there should come from Luxembourg agriculture, of which 2/5 should be organic and 3/5 from local agriculture.

According to chef Marc Steffen, the “Kannerhaus Wooltz” currently sources 31 % of the food processed in its two kitchens from regional conventional farming, 15 % from regional organic farming and 23 % from foreign organic farming. Regional here means from Luxembourg production, as close as possible to the Wiltz site, where the “Kannerhaus” runs three day-care centres and three maisons relais.

Marc Steffen also prepares the orders for the traders. He is satisfied with the range of regional organic products, even though the “Kannerhaus” often cannot obtain the goods directly from the farmer. “If we want to buy let’s say organic courgettes from a farmer, he must also be able to deliver them in compliance with the applicable hygiene requirements”, says Marc Steffen. But that means more work and expense for the farmer. So it sometimes happens that vegetables are ordered from a neighbouring village via a wholesaler – an efficient system that allows delivery trips to be organised rationally. Of course, there are also producers who deliver their goods themselves.

The “Kannerhaus Wooltz” is well on the way to implementing the measure from the National Action Plan for the Promotion of Organic Agriculture. The menu is determined by what is in season. Marc Steffen says that the organic products in particular ensure that the dishes taste good. He has also noticed since the start of this initiative, that traders are making an effort to have more and more organically grown food on offer.