University of California, Merced
SD-2: Food Education

UC Merced's CORE 100 class required is required for all incoming students. During this class, UC Merced students are asked to consider their social, economic and environmental impact. The topic-driven class features a sustainability focused series of sessions that cover waste and recycling from food and related activities.

UC Merced's sole dining facility educates patrons from the entry to exit on how to make eco-positive food choices. Dining Facilities feature information about food composting, recycling, zero waste targets and low impact dining utensils. Vegetarian options are prominently displayed for patrons.

UC Merced Dining Services is committed to increasing awareness around sustainability, defining it both technically and in practice for student customers to witness and hopefully model. Since the UC Merced's inception in 2005, Dining sustainability efforts have been implemented, including an emphasis on waste awareness education, portion allotment and composting. It is noteworthy that since students provide a significant portion of dining employees, UC Merced's "back of the house" sustainability efforts provide an additional outlet for communicating the importance of reducing resources.

The annual Bobcat Week (Spring) and Orientation Week (Fall) provide venues for UC Merced's campus dining facilities to spread the word about environmentally friendly food options offered both on campus and within the community. Through tabling, Facebook updates and CSA signups, students at UC Merced have the opportunity to gather information to make informed choices.

UC Merced operates a student assisted herb garden attached to the dining commons and has approved the Summer 2012 groundbreaking of a 625 sq. foot student-led garden located on campus property. The garden's goal is to encourage health and wellness by striving to develop a sense of environmental responsibility and stewardship and provide an outdoor learning environment.