Cal Poly Students Support Organic and Natural Dining

At California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, the Poly Fresh Market is the latest entry into the campus’s Green Campaign, which began more than a year ago.

At California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, the Poly Fresh Market is the latest entry into the campus’s Green Campaign, which began more than a year ago. Poly Fresh Market, which opened this fall at the Bronco Student Center, serves primarily organic and natural foods, according to George Rankin, director of Foundation Dining Services, the university’s not-for-profit foodservice organization.

“We are committed to making healthy choices more available in order to promote the health of the campus community,” says Rankin. “Having these types of foods in one accessible location makes it easy for students, faculty and staff to find a wide variety of healthy and organic foods.”

Poly Fresh carries a variety of packaged and prepared foods such as sandwiches, cereals, dry snacks and beverages. In addition, Poly Fresh sells items grown on campus by the agriculture department and marketed through the department’s Farm Store.

Rankin admits that there was some trepidation about Poly Fresh as opening day loomed. “Part of our fear was, were we too far ahead of the market?” he recalls. “We have been pleasantly surprised. The first week we were behind what the convenience store had done in sales. In the second week, however, we pulled even and now we are several hundred dollars a week ahead.”

Excerpt from FoodService Director Magazine’s November 15, 2007 article, “Taking a Healthy Walk.” Reprinted with permission of Ideal Media, LLC.