Take a moment to meet the local farmers, brewers, bakers and more whose products help keep our campus menus delicious and responsible. We're proud to support so many local businesses - with partnerships that benefit both our communities and the environment.
Located at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, CityKid Java was created in 2002 by Urban Ventures, a Twin Cities nonprofit, to help local youth programs become more self-sustaining. Every dollar of profit they make goes to programs that support disadvantaged children in the Twin Cities. Plus, they make pretty good coffee - winning six out of six taste tests against other big-name coffee chains. And, to top off the good karma, CityKid Java is dedicated to supporting sustainable practices and paying more for quality - often more than fair trade prices.
Artie's Tempeh of Gainesville, FL, is a tempeh (somewhat similar to tofu) producer owned by father and son, Sam and Art Guy. All of the soybeans they use to produce their tempeh are non-GMO and certified organic, grown by small family farmers. What makes this product even more sustainable is the fact that it is delivered via bicycle! Gator Dining Services at the University of Florida offers Artie's tempeh at both of its residential dining halls and in its catering options.
Grassland Farms is a beautiful, healthy and organic farm that sits on an amazing hill in Skowhegan, Maine. Run by Garin and Sara Smith, Grassland is primarily a dairy farm - milking 45 cows from Jerseys, Holsteins, Linebacks, and Brown Swiss. The MOFGA certified organic milk is produced every day and is offered for sale in returnable glass bottles at the retail food court at University of Maine Farmington. You can also find Grassland Farm products year round at the Skowhegan Farmers Market, the Orono Farmers Market, the Sandy River Farmers Market in Farmington, the Farmers Market at Mill Park in Augusta, and the Waterville Farmers Market.
Wildberry Organics is a small farm that began to take shape just a few years ago; it is the newest community-supported agricultural farm in Forest Grove. The owner, Greg Shipp, grew 2,500 melons last year and this year is shooting for 4,000; a great feat when many farmers are satisfied with a few dozen. Along with melons, the farm produces berries, other fruit and various vegetables. Products are sold as seasonal small or large shares, where each consumer will receive a certain amount of the harvest weekly - or is available on Wednesdays at the Forest Grove Farmers Market.
Pacific University of Forest Grove, Oregon, uses Roma tomatoes (aka: Oregon Star), cantaloupes, jalapeno peppers, chanterelle mushrooms, cauliflower mushrooms, lobster mushrooms, and this year even a 250-pound pumpkin from Wildberry Organics.
Since their first batch of Guatemalan coffee, Peace Coffee has made connections with coffee cooperatives in Mexico, Sumatra, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Peru, Nicaragua and Colombia - improving the supply chain by co-founding Cooperative Coffees, a co-op of roasters formed to import 100 percent fair trade coffee direct from the farmer coops that grow it.
Today, Peace Coffee continues to grow out of experiences in the coffee regions, time spent working in local cooperatives and a desire to push fair trade to the highest level. They are completely devoted to the idea of a fairly traded, farmer-friendly product and the wonders of a great cup of coffee.
Peace Coffee beans are shade grown, organic, and fair-trade certified. Plus, after roasting in Minneapolis, the beans are delivered by eco-friendly bike couriers!
In 1978, Dennis Courtier bought Pepin Heights Orchard, a small apple farm on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River in Lake City, Minnesota. More than 20 years later, using farming practices that call for less pesticide use and an intimate understanding of nature's balance, the operation now produces 20% of all the apples grown in Minnesota.
Committed to stewardship of the land and an approach that takes into account the farm's entire ecosystem, Courtier sees his role as working with nature rather than against it. The farm produces 60-70 varieties of apples for eating and the making of cider. Pepin Heights is continually looking to improve the production of healthy food in a healthy environment.
In 1994, Nezinscot Farm became the first certified organic dairy in the state of Maine. They do not use antibiotics or hormones on their cows, instead using homeopathic methods in caring for them, while maintaining as stress-free of an environment as possible for the animals. Ninety percent of all of their animals feed is homegrown, with the balance being primarily cornmeal and minerals.
In addition to milk, cheese and yogurt from their goats and cows, the farm also produces fruits, vegetables, herbs, wool and exotic yarns from their own sheep, llamas, and alpacas, plus canned goods from the garden - all certified organic. The University of Maine Farmington uses organic yogurt and fresh berries from the farm in their campus dining locations.
Thinking globally, roasting locally - that's the philosophy of Chris Neumann and Nora Edison, founders of Sweetwater Organic Coffee. Located in Gainesville, FL, they are the state's vanguard organic and Fair Trade coffee roaster. Sharing a lifelong passion for - and fascination with - specialty coffee, they are also committed to sustainability on every level, from their 100% Certified Specialty Coffees, recycled disposables, computer systems, and building materials to their pledge to donate 10% of after-tax earnings to charitable endeavors locally and in the coffee-producing world. Sweetwater Coffee is also a carbon-neutral roaster. Sweetwater considers the farmer/producers that grow their beans as partners in their business, and work with only the MOST responsible importers such as Cooperative Coffee, Royal Coffee, Elan Organic Coffee, and Knutsen Coffees LTD. Gator Dining Services at the University of Florida offers Sweetwater Coffee at the Fresh Food Company, Orange & Brew, Camelia Court Café, and Pugh Hall.
At Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, you'll find eggplant, Asian eggplant, romanesca squash, scallopini squash, garlic, herloom tomatoes, sweet peppers, and chili peppers from Gales Meadow Farm - a gorgeous, clear and healthy organic farm. The farm produces more than 200 varieties of stunning and delicious vegetables and herbs, many of which are heirloom varieties.
The owners, Rene' and Anne Berblinger, have been farming in Western Washington County's Gale Creek Valley since 1999. Not only are they certified Organic by Oregon Tilth since 2001, their farming practices also help build the surrounding soil and provide habitat for wildlife, including native plants, insects, birds, and microbes. Their products can be found at the Hollywood Farmers Market from May to October, the Hillsdale Farmers Market from March to May, and the Forest Grove Farmers Market.
ARAMARK serves 15 national and state parks and forests, with over 11 million visitors a year.
Got feedback? Share it with us! We're not just listening, we're acting on your ideas - and working to make your campus even better.
To view this component, you need to have Flash Player 9.0 or later installed. Click here to get the latest Flash player.
