What UNE’s Ripich Commons is Doing RIGHT
For students who experienced the dining hall food (at the Ripich Commons) last year, in the midst of COVID, you know about the amount of waste that was produced by trying to prevent the spread of the pandemic. Now, I really appreciate UNE’s measures to try and mitigate COVID here on campus, but I feel like there was a much more sustainable way to approach the wanted safe environment. I don’t want to get too deep into this topic, because it is not what I will be discussing in this post today, but I felt like I needed to mention that all of the waste that was generated last year could have been prevented.
On a more positive note, and what today’s topic is about, The Ripich Commons is not all that bad when it comes to their overall sustainability. UNE’s “Know Your Source” website for the dining hall provides information as to where the food you eat here is coming from, and most, if not all of it, comes from sustainable or local sources.
"Know Your Source has allowed us to work directly with farmers and small business owners to forge trusted and fruitful relationships and ultimately serve nutritious and sustainably sourced food to our guests."
They began their process towards a more “green” dining hall back in 2002 when they developed their EcoSteps® program which was established so they could work with local farms to “put food on [their] guests’ plates”. Although I would have loved a link of some sort to a website listing all the farms they’re partnered with so I could do further research, I appreciate that they note just how many farms they work with so you know that it’s something they’re passionate about. They also put the costs into words, helping to visualize how this economically supports local farms. Sadly, only about 20% of the food they supply in the dining hall is local. I would love for this number to grow as the years continue. Maybe even establishing a gardening program/internship over the summer and into the fall semester, just as another way to contribute and keep activity on campus sustainably focused.
There is always so much we can improve on personally, but especially as a community as well. Voice your concerns or any idea you may have for Parkhurst or the Ripich Commons by leaving a message on their review/suggestions board near the entrance stairs!
