Green Foods Initiative

Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 July 2009 21:27 Written by Administrator Saturday, 14 March 2009 00:06

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The Green Foods Initiative

 

The mission of SRB Green Foods Initiative (GFI) is to improve eating options around the Temple community and throughout Philadelphia. By working with local vendors, non-profits and community organizations, GFI aims to build a network of like minded folks who seek change in the food industry.

 

Philadelphia already is a very interesting city in terms of eating options and food availability. Being the largest city in a particularly fertile state, there are plenty of great local eating options. Converesly, Philadelphia is one of the nations least healthy cities and many parts of Philly have been deemed food deserts (Article from GridPhilly).

SRB is currently working to fight these issues with several projects.

Campus Lunch Truck program- In 2008 this program was started by Arne Morin and Ben Schneible by converting a barely surviving lunch truck into one of campuses most popular eateries. The truck known as Rudzi and Sons Lunch Truck was converted into the Green Truck with a fresh paint job, new menu including local and organic products as well as generally healthier eating options.

 

This program has expanded to include eight lunch trucks on Temples campus. Participating trucks are rated based on criteria listed below and in exchange are given marketing advise and general consulting aid from SRB representatives.

 

The campus food vendor poster

 

GFI

 

Urban Farming Project- In partnership with Urban Tree Connection (www.urbantreeconnection.org, Grid Magazine Article here) SRB is pursuing the dream of having several urban farms around the Temple community and eventually spreading farther out into the city.

 

Urban farming has many major benefits to communities and individuals including: reclamation of abandoned lots, improved access to healthy fresh food, nutrition education and environmental education. These issues are often overlooked by youth because of the lack of proper opportunity to get their hands in the dirt. SRB members can often be found volunteering in the local gardens around Temple hanging out with the neighborhood kids, clearing weeds and harvesting crops.