Involved. Evolving. Unearthing Our Earthy Side.

University Dining Services actively works to improve our relationship with the land, the community, and local producers. We are committed to supporting local farmers while providing students and University of Minnesota faculty and staff with foods, beverages, and products they want.

New Initiatives
Organic Composting
In September 2007, UDS implemented a pilot program, in partnership with UMN Waste Management and Hennepin County, to recycle compostable kitchen and dining room waste on campus. Eco-friendly waste, such as food scraps, napkins, paper, cardboard materials, and biodegradable packaging is collected in compostable trash bags and taken to the University’s composting site on the St. Paul campus. Composting reduces the amount of waste sent to incinerators and creates a beneficial product used to restore soil structure and reduce air and water pollution. In fall 2007, UDS collected over 78 tons of compost from participating kitchen and dining facilities.

Currently, Bailey, Centennial, Comstock, Middlebrook, Pioneer, and Sanford Residential Restaurants, Coffman Union’s Minnesota Marketplace, and Terrace Café in the St. Paul Student Center are participating in the program. In November 2007, Carlson Dining in the Carlson School of Management, Bistro West Restaurant and the Continuing Education and Conference Center also became organic composting sites. Additional dining locations will be added throughout the academic year.

Green Team
In conjunction with UDS’ evolving sustainability platform, UDS has developed a “Green Team” Internship Program to assist in research and customer engagement in Dining’s social responsibility and environmental efforts. Green Team interns are University of Minnesota students who have a passion for educating others about environmental responsibility. Green Team members work to provide education about organic composting, recycling and other UDS sustainability efforts for students, faculty, and staff on campus. For more information, or to apply for a part-time Green Team position, email UDS Marketing at mentg001@umn.edu

Organic Cotton Uniforms
UDS Food Dudes, Green Team and Nutrition Interns wear organic cotton uniforms. Organic cotton is grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides. This helps to improve the quality of the land, prevent water contamination and ensures healthier working conditions for farmers.

Biodegradable Packaging
In September 2007, UDS began using biodegradable packaging for fountain beverages and express grab-n-go items. Minnesota Marketplace’s Greens To Go also converted to biodegradable salad bowls. The new GreenWare packaging is thermoformed from Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) – a polymer derived entirely from corn resin – and takes approximately 45 days to break down in compost piles. UDS plans to implement additional biodegradable packaging as greater availability for products through existing purchasing partnerships become available throughout the academic year. New for Spring 2008 – biodegradable straws and parfait cups! The items, made from PLA, are compostable and can be placed in green “Organics Recycling” bins in UDS dining locations.

Urban Ventures & CityKid Java Coffee
University Dining Services is proud to announce their latest partnership with local non-profit organization – Urban Ventures. In 2002, Urban Ventures began CityKid Java, a creative business endeavor designed to help Urban Ventures’ social programming become more self-sustaining. With the support of student organizations such as Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG), UDS has implemented CityKid Java brewed coffees in each of its six Residential Restaurants on campus. CityKid Java coffee beans can be purchased in UDS’ Residential C3 Market convenience stores – located in Centennial, Middlebrook, and Sanford Residence Halls. New in spring 2008 – Bistro West Restaurant, located in the lower level of Hubert H. Humphrey Center, also switched to CityKid Java coffee.

In March 2008, University Dining Services began donating nutritious meals to the Urban Ventures organization on a weekly basis. The donated meaals help feed over 600 people who visit Urban Ventures' facility in South Minneapolis each day.

CityKid Java coffees benefit both coffee farmers and area children. Each of CityKid Java coffees are “true trade;” meaning, they’re purchased at or above fair trade industry cost. Every dollar Urban Ventures earns from CityKid Java sales fuels educational and mentoring programs, athletic teams, camps, and youth leadership experiences for children in our communit. For more information about CityKid Java, visit http://www.citykidjava.com/

Existing UDS Sustainability Initiatives

Locally Grown
In support of local agriculture, UDS has developed an on-going partnership with Midwest Food Alliance, an organization that provides certification of products grown with environmentally friendly and socially responsible agricultural practices.

In 2007, UDS purchased 170,184 pounds of local produce, a 184% increase over 2006. University customers also consumed 124,146 gallons of Land-O-Lakes Milk, produced in Minnesota.

Listed below are several of UDS’ local partners:

• Axdahl Garden Farms
• Pahl’s Market
• Vine Valley Farms
• Pepin Heights
• Svihel Farms
• Nuto Farms
• Thousand Hills Cattle Company

Heartland Food Network
University Dining Services is a charter member of the Heartland Food Network. This network works to increase the availability and variety of local and organic foods through diverse distribution systems. UDS partners with the Heartland Food Network to bring new and exciting menus to the University of Minnesota at the Arboretum and Bistro West Restaurants.

Third Thursday events are held every month at the Arboretum and Bistro West Restaurants to promote locally grown products and organic items. Bistro West also hosts monthly Guest Chef events, featuring local restaurant chefs who share a passion for cooking with locally grown foods. In addition to these events, guests can find locally grown and organic offerings daily at Bistro West Restaurant.

Bistro West Restaurant is located on the Lower Level of the Humphrey Center and is open Monday – Thursday 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and Friday 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. during the academic year. For more information, or to make reservations, please call 612-625-2588.

Arboretum Restaurant is located on the second floor of the Oswald Visitors Center at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Minnesota. The Arboretum Restaurant is open Monday – Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. For more information, please call 952-443-1434.

Organics
Organic menu offerings are available at a variety of UDS retail dining locations, including residential C3 Markets in Centennial, Middlebrook, and Sanford Halls and Essentials Market in Blegen Hall and M deli in Coffman Union.
In January 2008, UDS remodeled Essentials Market doubling the store’s space and product mix. The new store expansion includes a large organic food and beverage section, complete with organic sandwiches, salads, juices, yogurts, candies, and more.

In 2007, UDS purchased 3,190 gallons of Organic Soy Milk. As well, UDS purchased 684 pounds of organic produce.

Cage Free Eggs
In April 2007, UDS implemented cage free eggs in residential dining locations on the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities campus. Cage free eggs are produced from un-caged hens, raised in barns and other open environments.

Greater availability of cage free eggs through existing purchasing relationships and growing trends in overall sustainability made purchasing cage free egg products more viable. Since implementation, University Dining Services has purchased 40,000 pounds of cage free eggs.

Fair Trade
UDS’ fair trade support continues to expand on campus. UDS offers at least one fair trade coffee at every dining location on campus and also operates three Java City EcoGrounds coffee locations – cafés that serve Fair Trade & Rainforest Alliance certified coffees and espresso drinks.

M deli, located in Coffman Memorial Union, served 800 pounds of Peace Coffee in 2006. Peace Coffee roasted locally is fair trade, organic, and shade grown coffee, delivered fresh weekly by bicycle.

UDS’ recent partnership with Urban Ventures broadens our purchasing spectrum. In 2007, UDS purchased 1,200 pounds of CityKid Java true-trade coffee. Coffee purchased from Urban Ventures’ brand, City Kid Java, is “true trade;” meaning, coffee beans were purchased at or above fair trade industry cost. CityKid Java coffee is served in all UDS Residential Restaurants and Bistro West Restaurant. CityKid Java bean can also be purchased in UDS Residential C3 Markets, located in Centennial, Middlebrook and Sanford Halls.

In 2007, UDS purchased 7,157 pounds of Java City Fair Trade coffees, 2,830 pounds of Starbucks Fair Trade coffees, 2,934 pounds of Java City Rainforest Alliance coffees, 680 pounds of Dunn Bros Fair Trade coffee, and 800 pounds of Peace Coffee.

TOTAL Fair Trade lbs purchased in 2007 = 13,142 lbs. Folks, that's over 6.5 Tons!

Recycling
Sustainability reaches beyond UDS’ purchasing practices. As a department, we work to source and implement ways to limit and properly dispose of waste in dining locations. From January – March 2007 alone, residential restaurants collected 57,000 pounds of cardboard for recycling.

Oil
UDS’ used trans-fat free cooking oil is recycled for bio-diesel products. In 2006, Centennial Residential Restaurant donated 1,200 gallons of used oil to be recycled. UDS has been cooking with trans-fat free oil in campus restaurant locations since 2005. In January 2008, UDS also switched to trans-fat free sprays, butters, margarines, and cooking oils in all dining locations.

Paper
UDS venues use recycled paper napkins. In 2007, over 6,354,000 paper napkins made from recycled materials were used on campus. The amount of napkins purchased in 2007 is 846,000 less napkins than used in 2006. Thanks to UDS customers for keeping our earth in mind by only taking as much as needed while dining in UDS restaurants!

UDS restaurants and office locations also use 30% recycled paper. UDS 2007-2008 meal plan brochures were printed on recycled paper, using soy-based inks. Paper napkins are among the products being composted in Residential Restaurants, Coffman Memorial Union, St. Paul’s Terrace Café, Carlson Dining, Bistro West Restaurant, and Continuing Education & Conference Center dining areas.

Check back often for more updates!