Portland State University
( Portland OR 97207 )
Contact Name:
Earl Meininger
Contact Title:
Food for Thought Cafe Board Member
Telephone:
() -
E-Mail:
meinied@pdx.edu
Program Web Site:
www.fftcafe.org
Who was most responsible for initiating your farm-to-college program?

Student(s)
In what year did the program begin?

Other, please specify:
Are students actively involved in maintaining the program?

yes
How are the students involved in the program?

Researching costs/benefits of local purchasing

Researching availability of local products

Promotional/educational outreach

Other research

Menu/event planning

Coordinating purchase/delivery of products
What role, if any, have cooperative extension agents or other agency/agricultural professionals played in the farm-to-college program?

Resource/contact person

Stimulating interest and/or disseminating information (i.e., outreach)
What role, if any, would be useful for cooperative extension agents or other agency/agricultural professionals to play in the farm-to-college program?

Facilitator for certain program components
Who runs/is primarily responsible for the farm-to-college program? (please choose primary person/group in charge)

Student
Where do the majority of your locally purchased farm products come from?

50-200 miles
What are the primary local farm products you purchase? (please list top 3-5 items)

Other, please specify:
Are any of these local food products organically grown?

yes
Approximately how much, in dollars, does dining/food services spend annually on local farm products?

Other, please specify:

Other, please specify:
Who/where are local products purchased from?

Distributor(s)

Individual farmer(s)
Are local food products used in...

Regular menus

Special events
Was external funding or other resources (grants, equipment, etc.) used to...

Maintain the program

Start the program
Have any of the following individuals or groups been directly involved in development, coordination, education or promotion related to the farm-to-college program?

Faculty member(s)

Other student organization(s)

Student environmental organization(s)

University department(s)
Have you used any of the following to promote the program or enhance its educational value?

Class research

Speakers/demonstrations

Special events (eg., local foods dinner)

Web site
What, if any, other environmental initiatives on your campus are connected with the farm-to-college program?

Composting program

Fair trade projects

Farmer's market

Packaging reduction program
Are there any bidding requirements for purchasing local food?

no

no
Do local products cost more on average?

yes

yes
If yes, how do you manage the higher price?

Use external funding (i.e., grant or subsidy) to make up the difference

Reduce costs elsewhere to make up the difference
What do you see as the most significant barriers to starting or sustaining farm-to-college programs?

Coordinating purchase/delivery of products

Product price
What do you see as the most significant benefits from farm-to-college programs?

Opportunity for student education/research

Supporting local farmers, community and/or economy
Of the following policy issues, please choose up to two, if any, that you believe would provide the most significant support for farm-to-college programs:

Grants/subsidies to help dining/food services offset extra costs

Language written into food service contracts to support local food purchases

What strategies, if any, do you recommend for making farm-to-college programs work?

Be patient but persistent

Promote the project in as many ways as possible to the campus/local community
What resources, research, or contacts, if any, were useful for starting or expanding your farm-to-college program?

Other, please specify:
Is dining/food services:

Contract-managed (please provide contractor name)

Contract-managed (please provide contractor name)
Does food services use a (please choose most appropriate answer):

Mixed plan

Mixed plan