FOOD SECURITY
What is Food Security?
Based on the 1996 World Summit discussion, food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs for an active and healthy life.
What are we doing to support food security at UTM?
Hospitality & Ancillary Services has implemented a number of programs to support food security for community members at UTM:
UTM Mixed Greens
Delicious & Nutritious Salads for Less
Our UTM Farm donates leafy greens & herbs to UTM Dining so they may create nutritious pre-made salads in the Bodega fridges for a lower price.
You may identify the UTM Mixed Greens salads by looking for this symbol on the packaging!
Partnership with Friendlier
Donating Deposits from Across the Country
We partnered with Friendlier in our Colman Commons dining room in Oscar Peterson Hall in an effort to decrease takeout packaging & waste as well as to decrease the number of china plates that we need to replace each semester. The way that the reusable dish system works, is that once your deposits are returned to you, you have the option to either e-transfer them to yourself, or donate them to one of the Friendlier 'Recommended Charities'. With our partnership, we were able to have the UTMSU Food Center added to this vetted list of Recommended Charities, so now not only do UTM community members have the option to donate their deposits to the UTMSU Food Center, but now anyone who is using the Friendlier app (from anywhere in the country!) may easily donate their deposits directly to the UTMSU Food Center!
UTM Foodilizer™ Donations
Avoid Landfills & Feed the Earth
UTM Dining uses their organic kitchen waste (fruit peels, veggie stems, eggshells, etc.) and turns it into a dry, nutrient-rich byproduct which they then sell to UTM community members for $5 at the Davis Food Court, North Side Bistro, & Colman Commons. The UTM Foodilizer™ is an awesome fertilizer that can be mixed into gardens and potted plants! 100% of the proceeds of this program are donated to the UTMSU Food Center.
Donating Food Vouchers
Supporting Access While Respecting Privacy
In an effort to support food security for members of the UTM community while also protecting the privacy of those accessing the support, Hospitality & Ancillary Services works with teams across campus to ensure those who need help accessing sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs for an active and healthy life.
UTM Farm
Seedling Donations at Events Across Campus
Throughout the year, our UTM Farm team works to attend events related to sustainability, culture, food, & food service where they often will donate seedlings to community members so they may grow their own leafy greens and herbs for low cost and easy access to a consistent support of nutritious items.