Berkeley Student Food Collective Operational Sustainability Intern

Berkeley Student Food Collective Operational Sustainability Intern

Project Leads: Jeff Noven, Candice Rankin, Rasa Ostad, Justin Michael, Lizi Vidar

Project Sponsor: Berkeley Student Food Collective

TGIF Grant: $2,000

Project Theme: Food Justice and Sustainability

Application Submission

Project Description: Previous BSFC interns funded by TGIF have discovered a comprehensive picture of the Food Collective’s progress in several different facets of sustainability: ecological practices, finances, community relations, and adherence to and education about the Real Food Challenge. As the BSFC gained recognition and prominence within the culture of UC Berkeley, it observed nearly exponential growth in the number of transactions possible in the store in its first two years. However, the most recent data shows a leveling off of such growth, with the number of transactions flat lining in the last few months. With an increased number of transactions follows two interrelated benefits for the campus: the number of students and community members whom the BSFC can provide with whole foods, and the increased profit for the Food Collective that moves it ever closer to financial solvency and ensured longevity.

Project Goals: To fund an internship within the Food Collective that can synthesize the data gathered by previous interns (and volunteer members), from different parts of the store, into concrete ways in which the Food Collective can increase its capacity to serve students and community members nutritious, sustainable food.

Final Report