Priority Value: Purchase and provide ecologically sound options when feasible.
Production, processing and distribution methods all have an ecological impact. To reduce the impact of purchased food at Washington University in St. Louis, our dining partners will pursue a number of standards that recognize environmental impact. Preference will be given to USDA Certified Organic products, which are grown and processed without the use of pesticides, herbicides or artificial fertilizers. This method of production, although controversial due to enforcement of standards and quality, leads to reduced environmental impacts including greenhouse gases and pollutants, particularly due to the absence of artificial nitrogenous fertilizers. Products bearing this certification are also readily available from many suppliers nationwide. Equivalent or alternative certifications such as Protected Harvest and Food Alliance will also be considered as favorable purchases.
For marine products, the Marine Stewardship Council and the Monterrey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program offer guidance in making sustainable choices when buying seafood. The goal with sustainable seafood choices is to ensure a long-term source of diversity and bounty of edible sea creatures. The Monterrey Bay program splits seafood into three categories: Best Choices, Good Alternatives and Avoid, based on long-term availability, the percentage of catch that is typically observed and the state of overfishing of that species. The Marine Stewardship Council bases their certifications on the condition of fish stocks, the impact of the fishery on the marine environment and fishery management systems.
In the realm of imported and exotic food, certifications such as Rainforest Alliance and Fair Trade Certified, as well as shade-grown coffee, address issues of environmental sustainability, and therefore qualify for consideration for purchase.
Currently, there are some options for organic products on the Danforth Campus such as field greens, carrot chips and local mushrooms. Bon Appétit has participated in the Seafood Watch program since 2002, selecting only Best Choices or Good Alternatives. Additionally, 100 percent of bananas and 79 percent of coffee on the Danforth Campus are fair-trade certified.
ARAMARK currently has some options to purchase organic products. They also participate in Seafood Watch, selecting only Best Choices or Good Alternatives. Fair-trade certified coffee is available in one of the two dining locations at the Medical Campus as well as at the Law School.
Our purchasing preferences value certified products more highly but also recognizes the value of foods produced on transitional farms, which are in the process of transferring to organic methods but are not yet certified. Additionally, the matrix gives preference to “Best Choices” over “Good Alternatives” for Seafood Watch options.
To decrease the ecological impact of dining purchases, Washington University Dining Services will