Successfully passed: Organic model region supports Borken district canteen with organic certification
The canteen at Borken district hall is now certified organic. The Münsterland eco-model region, based at Münsterland e.V., supported the canteen operator, ABH OHG - Event- und Gastroservice, in its application for a free "NRW cooks with organic" coaching programme. The aim was to develop strategies for introducing or expanding the range of organic food on offer and achieving organic certification. Recently, ABH OHG - Event- und Gastroservice successfully passed these tests.
"The speed with which Managing Director Pascal Hellwig and his team prepared the district canteen in the Borken district for organic certification and implemented the necessary requirements is remarkable. We are particularly pleased that guests can now also find out which dishes are cooked with organic and regional ingredients," says Juliane Rabe, head of the Münsterland eco-model region (ÖMR). This organisation promotes organic farming in the four Münsterland districts and the city of Münster and also offers an extensive network of companies and businesses. Andreas Grotendorst, CEO of Münsterland e.V., adds: "Such initiatives ensure that the transformation in rural areas is supported in a very tangible way."
It is not easy for a kitchen or canteen to advertise organic dishes. Before the word "organic" can be printed on the menu, the kitchen or canteen must undergo an inspection by an independent organic inspection body. The kitchen thus proves that if it says organic on the label, it is also organic. The Münsterland model eco-region supported the canteen operator during the application phase and throughout the rest of the application process. After being accepted, ABH OHG - Event- und Gastroservice took part in several group and individual coaching sessions last year. This also included the coached kitchens visiting each other in their kitchens. In addition to ABH OHG - Event- und Gastroservice, six other canteens and kitchens were trained - including Mathilde Anneke Gesamtschule from Münster, also from ÖMR Münsterland. The Ministry of Agriculture and Consumer Protection NRW supports the ÖMR and the coaching.
Pascal Hellwig, Managing Director of ABH OHG - Event- und Gastroservice, is delighted with the certification and says: "Organic means opting for quality. We are very proud that we can now serve this to our guests in the district canteen and show our commitment to sustainability." Together with the eco-model region, further plans are now being made as to which additional organic ingredients can be sourced and cooked from the Münsterland region in future.
For the Borken district, the organic certification of the district canteen is also an important step towards further increasing the variety of regional foods and keeping delivery routes short. Dr Kai Zwicker, District Administrator of the Borken district, says: "The Borken district is known for its broad-based economic structure. This also applies to agriculture. Many farms already operate according to ecological standards and adhere to high standards. But only comparatively few have been certified as organic so far. The fact that the operator of our district canteen, the company ABH OHG - Event- und Gastroservice, has now embarked on the journey and successfully undergone certification is a strong signal and encouragement for other canteens and catering businesses in the Borken district."
About the Münsterland eco-model region
The four districts of Münsterland and the city of Münster work together with the NRW Chamber of Agriculture and the Leader regions in the joint project "Öko-Modellregion Münsterland". Under the leadership of Münsterland e.V., the project aims to increase the proportion of bioregionally produced products in the fields, on supermarket shelves, on canteen plates and in shopping baskets. The project is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
