90 Percent of Food and Beverages Locally Sourced within 150 Miles – Establishing the Nation’s Preeminent Farm-to-Fork Arena
Partnership with the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Green Sports Alliance Ensures Sustainable Practices Throughout for a Comprehensive Food-to-Waste Cycle
Sacramento, Calif. – Today, the Sacramento Kings announced a partnership with Legends Hospitality to manage the team’s food and beverage services at the upcoming Entertainment and Sports Center (ESC), scheduled to open in October of 2016. The Kings also announced a partnership with the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Green Sports Alliance to establish and execute a sustainability program for the arena’s comprehensive food-to-waste cycle.
A defining component of the partnership is to embrace the Sacramento region’s unparalleled farm-to-fork movement. 90 percent of food beverages will be locally sourced within 150 miles – establishing the ESC as the nation’s most preeminent farm-to-fork arena. Key elements include:
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Over 740 produce, poultry, beef and pork farmers; artisan cheese makers; olive oil producers; craft beer and wineries within a 150-mile radius.
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Agriculture contributes nearly $45 billion to the state’s economy, so this effort will help protect this critical California industry – including the more than 315,000 (total) farm worker jobs within a 150-mile radius of Sacramento. (Source: 2012 USDA Census)
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Chef Michael Tuohy will serve as the ESC’s executive chef. Tuohy is best known as the executive chef and tastemaker at LowBrau Sausage & Beer Hall and Block Butcher Bar. Prior, Tuohy was the founding executive chef of Grange Restaurant at the Citizen Hotel.
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Advisory council comprised of Chef Tuohy and esteemed Sacramento restaurateurs Patrick Mulvaney, Randy Paragary and Randall Selland.
“Under Kings Owner Vivek Ranadivé’s leadership, our upcoming ESC will showcase the very best the Sacramento region has to offer in a way that has never been done before in the sports industry,” said Kings President Chris Granger. “The Kings will create a culinary destination that is as rich as the soil that is cultivated throughout the valley, and, together the Kings and Legends Hospitality will usher in an unprecedented era of food and beverage services. ”
"This is the latest example of how the arena is bringing out the best in Sacramento," said Mayor Kevin Johnson. "I applaud the Kings for embracing some of Sacramento's greatest strengths – our agriculture base and emerging farm-to-fork culture – in a way that will translate into more jobs and more revenue for local farmers and restaurants. Once again, we're proving that the downtown ESC is so much bigger than basketball."
The Kings selected Legends Hospitality, the market leader in hospitality services, after an extensive search process with a focus on revolutionizing premium hospitality, industry-leading business acumen, and commitment to fostering local standards.
“We are thrilled to help the Kings bring Sacramento’s dynamic farm-to-fork movement to the new ESC,” said President and COO of Legends Shervin Mirhashemi. “With a program built on local production and sustainability, we hope to represent the region’s culinary heartbeat. We’re dedicated to setting a national standard for hospitality previously unattained in sports and entertainment.”
The partnership will pursue specific strategies and initiatives to promote high quality and standards. A wide range of concepts are already being developed, including:
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Developing a multi-tiered charter that includes proper sourcing, procurement, and sustainability models. This includes creating an industry-first audit committee – led by Legends General Manager, Executive Chef and Director of Purchasing – to ensure local produce, beef, poultry, and pork farms follow proper organic and sustainability protocols.
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Cultivating and supporting robust community-focused programs to elevate food education.
The Kings made the announcement at Soil Born Farms, a nationally recognized center for the promotion of urban agriculture, sustainable food systems and healthy food education, which will be one of the ESC’s new partners.
"Soil Born Farms is proud to be an important partner prioritizing the importance of healthy food for all and honoring the agricultural heritage of our region,” said Soil Born Farms Co-Director and Founder Shawn Harrison. "We support the Kings commitment to source from over 740 local vendors and wineries making fresh, locally grown food options available to patrons of the new ESC."
The Kings and Legends Hospitality also announced a partnership with the NRDC and Green Sports Alliance to help develop sustainable programs and policies throughout operations. These experts will help ensure the Kings serve as a leader in energy conservation, combatting climate change and sustainable food procurement, including:
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Establishing policies, procedures, and operational initiatives for energy efficiency to food waste procedures.
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Installation of an organic food waste system (ORCA) to dispose of organics at the source.
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Building a LEED-certified kitchen to usher in the highest environmental standards.
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Usage of disposables that are compostable and biodegradable.
“By choosing to emphasize local food sources, the Sacramento Kings and Legends Hospitality are supporting a more sustainable food supply system in the Sacramento Valley,” said NRDC Senior Scientist and Green Sports Alliance President Dr. Allen Hershkowitz. “Using resources obtained locally also helps reduce fuel consumption and the global warming pollution associated with transporting food long distances. The NRDC and Green Sports Alliance hope all sports and entertainment venues take note and follow the Kings leadership.”
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About the Sacramento Kings: In May 2013, Vivek Ranadivé led a dynamic and diverse ownership group comprised of leaders in technology, sports, marketing and real estate to purchase the Sacramento Kings. Under Ranadivé’s leadership, the Kings have implemented a forward-looking “NBA 3.0” philosophy that guides the Kings in becoming the first franchise of the21st century. NBA 3.0 is driven by utilizing cutting-edge technology, acting as a positive agent of change in the community, and expanding the team’s and the region’s global brand.