Farm to Fork and Further

Health Promotion, RIT Sustainability, and RIT Dining hosted Farm to Fork and Further, an interactive food event where students explored sustainability, health, and food systems.

Several exhibitors participated, including Palmer’s, Beekeeper’s Club, Engineers for a Sustainable World, the Student Dietetic and Nutrition Association, and Student Government, curating an experience connecting food to sustainability.

“Food is important to everyone because everyone has to eat. Every day we can be mindful of our choices by opting to choose options that are fair trade from our Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters we serve on campus, to plant-based options at Gracie’s,” shared Neha Sood, assistant director of campus sustainability.

To encourage participants at the event to learn about sustainability initiatives that are happening within RIT Dining, RIT Catering created three vegan sample dishes. The RIT community can try making these recipes at home or look for dishes like these at Gracie’s in the near future.

• Vegan Apple Crisp
• Vegan Mac & Cheese
• Vegan Collard Greens

Tom Connelly, director of outdoor education, teaches the Maple Syrup and Our Environment course as one of the two required wellness classes. “In the course, students go to an actual maple farm and take part in the process of making maple syrup, while also learning about agricultural economy and sustainability.” Connelly’s maple syrup taste-testing table was a hit at the event.

So what is your part? Here are some ways the RIT community can take a step towards connecting the food they eat on campus to sustainability:

• Switch out one meal for a plant-based option, like selecting tofu instead of the beef or pork at the Noodle Bar.
• Try the Grain Bowl Station at Gracie’s and experiment with different vegetables to find your perfect blend.
• Whenever you eat at Gracie’s, The Commons, Brick City Café, or the RITz, you are participating in helping RIT eliminate 150 tons of food waste from the landfill every year.
• Purchase a pair of reusable bamboo utensils in-store at Shop One.

• Check out RIT Sustainability’s website to learn about how food is an integral part of sustainability and ways to engage at RIT from the community garden, to donating to the RIT FoodShare. Reach out to RIT Sustainability at sustainability@rit.edu with questions.