Building Community and Culture

Building community around sustainable food systems as well as creating a culture of daily sustainable practices in our staff and students is one of Dining Services most important sustainability practices. Dining Services works to create a positive environment for students and staff to learn more about personal sustainability practices and making a positive effect on the planet.

Community Outreach and Support

Dining services is proud to partner with the University of California, Davis and the City of Davis and Yolo County to provide education, outreach, and support for work towards and education in food system sustainability:

• UC Davis East Quad Farmers Market sponsor
• Supporting community education for a more localized food system - Taste of Yolo 2007, 2008
• Partnering with local vendors and distributors to bring locally grown and processed foods to UC Davis, including - Sun Flour Baking Co, Sacramento Baking Co, Next Generation Foods and the Growers Collaborative.
• Partnering with the UC Davis Olive Center to provide campus grown and pressed olive oil to students and customers in the resident dining rooms and Gunrock Pub.
• Hosting bi-annual Farm-to-College Theme meals bringing the community and students together to learn more about their food system.
• Supporting hunger relief through the annual Swipe-out-Hunger program where students donate products to the food bank purchased with donated 'swipes' from their meal plan.
• Annual Yolo County Food Bank Fundraiser
• Collaborating with Student Health Services and other campus departments for events, education, support
• Working with local growers to provide opportunities for sales and marketing

Creating a 'Culture' of Sustainability

By interacting with students and our staff, we hope to foster personal sustainability practices that are achieved inside and outside of our food service operations.

• Encouraging reusing - complimentary reusable totes and water bottles to residents living on campus, Spot-a-Mug program
• Printing all documents double-sided and using electronic files, electronic communication
• Purchasing bicycles/work bikes for employees to use on campus to bike to and from meetings, make errands, do quick deliveries (winter of 2010)
• Encouraging Vermiculture composting in offices
• Zero Waste Events, standard - Aggie Ware Packout Program, collaboration with R4 and Waste Management, zero-waste Aggie Stadium