TAVISTOCK College hopes to back local food suppliers as a result of changes in the school's catering service.
It is now in control of its own catering and the kitchen and refectory are in for a face-lift.
The college has been able to take advantage of new arrangements for local authority tendering. The change means revenue from catering sales drops straight into college coffers instead of filling the county council's purse.
Principal John Simes said: 'We hope the college will benefit as a result. For example, during the summer there will be a refurbishment and improvement of the refectory and kitchen areas.'
Mr Simes said the opportunity to buy local ingredients would also benefit producers in the area.
'Other benefits would be an increasing emphasis on healthy foods and a better response to customers' needs,' he said.
'Our staff and students know what they like to eat and catering manager, David Woodward, will now be able to respond to customer comment more effectively.'
Mr Simes paid tribute to the catering manager's 'innovative menus' and 'quality service' and said students and visitors were always 'very complimentary' about the quality of meals at Tavistock College.
'Just as the standard of our cleaning service improved when we took on the job locally, so we expect that the high standards, already achieved, will be boosted even further by this scheme of local management,' said Mr Simes.
Graham Stoate, vice principal, said Mr Woodward now has 'very much more control' under the new arrangements.
'Whereas before, he was restricted to a central purchasing organisation, he's now making his own decisions,' said Mr Stoate.
'I think it does free him tremendously to do his own thing, particularly in local sourcing.'
The new arrangements may have a knock-on effect in the area, in that the college could offer its own catering services to other smaller schools, although Mr Stoate said the college was not ready to take such a step at this stage.