9/17/2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. -Michigan State University residence halls will offer an organic meal to students and the general public for the first time in residence hall history on Sept. 18 and 19.
Diners will be offered a meal that is prepared from local organically raised food from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Brody Hall and at the same time on Thursday in Holmes Hall. The public can purchase meal tickets at each hall.
The menu, which is 90 percent organic and is prepared from food raised by farmers no more the 50 miles away from East Lansing, includes a salad bar, breads, white fish with cherry salsa, grilled vegetables, oven browned potatoes, cheeseburgers, penne and marinara sauce, chicken and rice, apple crisp and chocolate chip cheesecake.
Encouraged by the agriculture and food subcommittee of the University Committee for a Sustainable Campus, University Housing is seeking to educate students about organic foods that are grown locally.
"We're trying to make the issue of food - where it comes from and how it is produced - more visible and more familiar," said Laura DeLind, specialist-adviser in anthropology, and subcommittee chairperson. "Feeding approximately 14,000 students a day is an enormous job.
"As eaters, we have much to learn about the production methods, labor, energy, and economic and social costs associated with our food supply," DeLind said.
Marta Mittermaier, procurement manager for MSU Food Stores, views the organic foods served in residence halls as "an opportunity to raise student awareness of their food choices and to test how accessible and cost effective this approach might be for a food service the size of MSU.
" In conjunction with the meals, growers and agriculture-related organizations will be showcasing information on organic foods, local foods and seasonal eating.
For additional information, visit MSU's Housing and Food Services Web site at www.hfs.msu.edu