McDonald's is offering Fair Trade coffee... huh? Are we talking about the same McDonald's criticized in the film "Supersize Me: and the popular book, "Fast Food Nation?" If you can believe it - yes.
Over the last decade, offering environmentally-friendly and socially-responsible foods have become commonplace in both retail and food service. A prime example is the announcement last month that McDonald's will offer Fair Trade organic coffee in 650 of their New England restaurants. And it's not just the golden arches. Other big food industry players such as Kraft, General Mills and Wal-Mart are following suit with their own investments in the organic market. The trend also extends beyond corporate industry to the food service operations at colleges and universities across the country - including Tufts.
Thanks to the efforts of students, staff, faculty and Tufts' Dining Services, Tufts has come a long way as an environmental steward through offering sustainable agriculture products - those that are organic, locally grown and/or Fair Trade (Fair Trade is distinguished by an international co-op of farmers who are guaranteed a fair market price for their crop). These sustainable goods bring either ecological or socially pleasing benefits that fit the mission of Tufts' Environmental Policy: to be "responsible stewards of [our] physical environment."
As one example of progress, Tufts has been a part of a nation-wide Farm-To-College initiative to bring more local produce to campus in support of our local environment, farmers and economy. In addition, Tufts offers a Fair Trade coffee option in many campus eateries, offers organic options in the dining hall (cereal bar, yogurts, and vegetarian stations), and has an organic grocery section at the campus convenience store, Jumbo Express. The University has even supported humanely-raised animal products by offering free range eggs produced at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
But there is more work to do. To truly eliminate the use of synthetic pesticides, we must decrease the distance traveled by our food and ensure farmers a fair price for their harvest. This is best accomplished by "voting" with your food dollars. In other words, purchasing and supporting the existing sustainable food choices that Tufts currently offers. Also, offer your feedback! The managers at each dining hall and campus eatery respond to the student comment board, so let them know that you appreciate and want more organic, local and Fair Trade options. Lastly, get involved with a student group like the Fair Trade committee of PANGEA (a global awareness and relief organization formed by Tufts students), Tufts Food Awareness Project (TFAP), or the Friedman School's FOOD initiative.
Melissa Bailey is a doctoral student in the Agriculture, Food and Environment (AFE) program at the Friedman School. She is also a staff member at the Fletcher School.
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