Berkeley Student Food Collective considers expanding onto campus

The Berkeley College student Food items Collective, or BSFC, a university student-run grocery shop, is thinking of increasing into the Martin Luther King Jr. College student Union.

BSFC is currently functioning in a modest space off campus, in accordance to BSFC government director Jeff Noven. A grocery keep on campus would assistance students entry very affordable food and grocery choices, including food that can be obtained using CalFresh rewards, Noven mentioned.

Having said that, even with a surplus of volunteer labor, elevated meals needs and space limits make it complicated to offer you the comprehensive providers of groceries learners need. These limits pressured BSFC to make tough conclusions as to which merchandise it is likely to market and how to stock the retailer, Noven famous.

“With a larger sized room, (BSFC) would be equipped to provide as the complete-company grocery keep that our campus local community demands and warrants,” Noven said. 

When an enlargement into campus’ Bear’s Lair is not confirmed, it is currently currently being discussed, Noven added.

Chair of the BSFC Board Megha Krishnan, who utilized to operate at The Each day Californian, additional that management changeover in the student union is one particular explanation for the delay in shifting into the Bear’s Lair.

“The Collective’s members have constantly sought to bring college student governance and university student organizing into the food stuff method in a quite tangible way, which includes by providing low-cost, community and healthy groceries to a community that lacks a large amount of other excellent options,” Noven mentioned.

According to Noven, students most impacted by the foodstuff system should really be the kinds with the best say in that method. At this moment, BSFC is a person of only a handful of grocery store near to campus on Southside that accepts Electronic Reward Transfer, or EBT, system, which usually means a entire-support grocery keep is “more urgent than ever,” Noven noted.

Krishnan explained they hope the student union can see how the presence of the BSFC on campus can gain the pupil entire body. They famous BSFC can generate an natural environment of civic engagement and support education the moment it moves into the college student union.

Noven included that expanding BSFC can support get college students concerned in BSFC management positions, further more provide guidance to more than 40% of pupils who are at this time on authorities assistance and present a sustainable resource of healthy food stuff.

“We are substantially additional than just a grocery retailer we are a hub to educate the community about meals programs and nutrition, and to empower organizers and leaders,” Krishnan stated in an electronic mail. “We think our organization and campus could genuinely benefit from us moving to the Bear’s Lair.”

Lauren Cho is a scholar lifestyle reporter. Get hold of her at [email protected].

Correction(s):
A earlier variation of this write-up incorrectly stated there is no grocery shop close to campus on Southside that accepts EBT. In truth, the BSFC is just one of only a several vendors close to campus on Southside that accepts EBT.