Wait, you didn’t actually just say that there is a STARBUCKS on campus, did you? Welcome back Brandeis students! I hope all of your summers were beautiful and filled with delicious, wonderful food.
Brandeis is gearing up for some major food changes, many of which have already been implemented. For those of you who were either abroad, or decided to go off the grid for the summer, you may have missed the update that Brandeis has officially switched over to Sodexo, our new food provider. Last semester, it was revealed that our contract with Aramark was up for bidding, and that there was the opportunity to have a completely different food system here at Brandeis. After bids were placed, presentations were made, and conversations took place, the official change was decided in early summer: Sodexo had won the bid, and Aramark would no longer be Brandeis’s food provider.
So…back to the Starbucks, right? Well, as exciting as it is that we have some fantastic new café additions to campus – and let’s be real, Brandeis cannot live without caffeine – there are additionally quite a few other changes that are in process. A major highlight I’d like to start off with is the fantastic addition of our produce being sourced from a local food market, Russo’s, located in Watertown, MA. Russo’s is like a Whole Foods without the crazy prices, mixed with a farmer’s market, and wrapped with a wonderful history that is still run by the same family. For those of you who might not be so interested in supermarket options, this is still a huge deal. Taste the food! The quality has changed significantly.
Sodexo has officially agreed to sign onto the request for 20% real food by 2015, something real foodies (aka Brandeis Real Food/SEA Food Policy) has been working towards for years. Brandeis is ready to push forward into the future as pioneers in the food movement working towards helping ensure that we are eating foods that are nutritious, communal, fair, and sustainable. Brandeis is acting with social justice to help encourage the momentum of such an important movement
Brandeis will change our approach to how we serve our food as well; Sodexo wants to make changes that will fulfill the wants of our community, and has started, for example, by creating pre-prepared healthy to-go options with added variety. There are more changes soon to come within Usdan and Sherman, and new additions will be replacing areas such as Quiznos. The seating layout has changed slightly, but will continue to evolve as Sodexo has mentioned being interested in changing the types of tables and chairs and overall layout to enhance the environment and vibe of our dining halls. A Dunkin’ Donut’s is being installed where the previous V-Store was, and our Einsteins will hopefully make the change to a full-service store featuring hot foods and a fuller menu. A food truck should be making its way around campus on certain days as well.
These are all exciting changes, and Sodexo seems to be more than willing to mold their practices around Brandeis’s values and community. I can’t wait to see what else they have in store!