Sodexo Community

Sustainability: California State University at Monterey Bay

Since enhanced efforts to bring both local and organic foods to campus got cooking, menus have taken on a whole new flavor at California State University at Monterey Bay. Our dynamic dining facilities in this Northern California city serve more than 2,400 meals a day—about 57,600 meals per year. Many of those meals are made from organic produce grown by a well-known local business—Earthbound Farm.

Founded on two acres in Carmel Valley more than 21 years ago, Earthbound Farm is now one of the largest growers of organic produce in the world and uniquely capable of meeting the year-round demand for the wide variety of organic produce needed by the Sodexo restaurant operations at CSUMB. Because Earthbound's base is only about a half-hour away from CSUMB, we receive fresh-from-the-farm local produce three or more times a week. Our restaurant operations use Earthbound Farm organic salad greens, vegetables and fruits in various menu items across campus as well as featuring a variety of Earthbound Farm's conveniently packaged organic "Grab & Go" items such as salads with dressings and toppings, apple slices, carrot dippers and raisins.

CSUMB's Farm to School Partnership, based at the Watershed Institute, remains a key supporter in helping Sodexo respond to requests from students for more local and organic foods. "We have been gradually incorporating more organic and locally grown foods into our program,” said Dan Kaupie, General Manager for Sodexo at CSUMB. “Until recently, the market was minimal and the cost was prohibitively high. But now, our agreement with Earthbound Farm has greatly improved our availability and made the prices much more competitive for us. This is a great asset to our campus menus."

Sodexo has long purchased produce from local growers. In fact, 17 of our 21 food service suppliers are from the surrounding area. Just this past year, more than $100k of our annual food purchases went to support local businesses. Our delicious Fair Trade Certified coffee is freshly roasted by the nearby Santa Cruz Roasting Co. Additionally, Sodexo has enjoyed a partnership with Cypress Baking, a local bakery that we all have grown to love. This is all part of our effort to support local businesses in the Monterey Peninsula area.

Sodexo proudly operates a full-service restaurant as well as resident dining, retail and catering operations on the campus at Monterey Bay.

Organic Foods

"This partnership between Sodexo, CSUMB and Earthbound Farm to bring fresh and delicious organic produce onto the university campus is extremely gratifying. Since my husband Drew and I started Earthbound Farm more than 21 years ago, our passion has been to bring the benefits of organic food to as many people as possible and serve as a catalyst for positive change. It is exciting to be able to bring these students organic produce, while simultaneously creating an opportunity for them to learn the importance of choosing fresh, unprocessed and sustainably produced food. Historically, 'dorm food' has not been known for its healthfulness or deliciousness, and we're eager to help change both that perception and reality."

Myra Goodman
Co-founder of Earthbound Farm

View the full summary of the sustainability efforts at California State University at Monterey Bay as a PDF document here.

View all university sustainability profiles as a PDF document here.