Minneapolis hospital fights uphill battle against rising food costs

With about 80,000 meals to prepare each month for patients, doctors and staff, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview is fighting an uphill battle against rising prices. Compared with a year ago, the cost of meal ingredients at Fairview has gone up 6%. So far, the hospital has raised its cafeteria prices only 3.2%. Fairview Riverside has summoned all its ingenuity to adapt menus and operations to stay within its $4.5 million annual budget, such as buying more local produce, cooking entrees in smaller batches, and switching to reusable kitchenware.