UC Davis Medical Center is Sacramento, Calif., is the first hospital recognized by the James Beard Foundation for sustainable food sourcing, according to an article on the Sacramento Bee website.

The hospital earned the organization’s designation as a Smart Catch leader, recognizing an emphasis on sustainability in its seafood procurement.

“It’s unusual for a hospital’s food services program to qualify for such an accomplishment. The focus on local sourcing and sustainability measures while using clean, healthy food ingredients truly makes a difference” Santana Diaz, executive chef for food and nutrition services at the Sacramento-based health system, said in the article.

The health system also participates in the Cool Food Pledge program, in which food-service businesses track the climate impact of foods they serve, and the Health Care Without Harm effort to reduce the hospital system’s environmental impact. 

Read the article.