Project Clearinghouse

Advancing Food Recovery & Production Support toward Food Security Efforts for UCSC Students & Campus Affiliates

Sustainability Problem and Proposed Solution: 

This project seeks to address food waste and contribute to student basic needs support with a food diversion program to support student food security through the Cowell Coffee Shop: For The Peoples and the Slug Support Pantry.

Jump to: Contact | Project Description | Funding Sources | Metrics for Success | Results
Project Categories: 
Food
Social Justice
Waste & Recycling
Project Status: 
In Progress
Campus Organization: 
Campus Dining
Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems
Food Systems Working Group
Affiliated Department, Unit or College: 
Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems
Project Location: 
On campus

Food recovery items channeled to the Cowell Coffee Shop: For The Peoples (from multiple on site food service locations)

UCSC Basic Needs Logo


Stakeholder Contacts: 
Contact NameEmail AddressContact NumberDepartment
Tim Galarneau
tgalarne@ucsc.edu
8313598861
CASFS/ENVS
Funding Sources: 
Campus Sustainability Plan Grant ($4400)

Project Description: 

This project will coordinate and maintain a weekday evening food recovery program in partnership with CASFS, UCSC Dining, and Slug Support in order to reduce food waste at retail cafes and coffee carts on campus. In conjunction food recovery efforts will support reducing the overall food budget costs of operating a free cafe largely based on recovery efforts being operated out of the Cowell Coffee Shop location. This project will further expand in Winter and Spring to receive pre-consumed and full catering pan donations that will be served and offered in reusable to-go wear provided by this grant for students. Fall 2018 the Cowell Coffee Shop: For The Peoples took over the food recovery efforts developed by the Sustainability Office and has fully operationalized the model with Winter 2019 expansions to all retail sites operated by Dining as well as prepared catering food items.

Metrics for Success: 

-Number of students served

-Frequency of food recovery and basic aggregate volume details

-Ability to scale to all retail sites and catering in FY 18-19

Next Steps: 
Major milestones thus far have included the purchase of a Gem e-cart for food recovery, increased refrigerated storage space, and commercial kitchen capacity for reheating catered foods for student food security support. Our next steps entail assessing the catered food recovery process in terms of volume, scope of product, and maintaining timely communication to increase distribution in Winter 2019.
Result Categories: 
Behavior Change
Policy
Education/Outreach
Data Collection & Analysis
Results: 

We will measure number of students served through food recovery items as well as basic food recovery details to highlight volume and numbers served.

Resources
Related Websites: 
UCSC Basic Needs Website