Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / April 25, 2017, edition 1 / Page 16
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rtf ■ ^P W‘->' "* i brown HAt!? ;V 't'- '■ u-L.u »• « Students serve up alternatives to private food corporations on campus LARISA KARR + BROOKE RANDLE + MAGGIE HADDOCK News Staff llarr@unca.edu When stxidents entered Brown Hall in the fall of 2014, they, were greeted by a completely new cafeteria, decorated with signs reading “nurture,” “nourish” and “savor” over various food stations. The excitement was palpable. But behind the glossy posters of rolling hiUs and farm- fresh food lies a multi-billion dollar indus trial food corporation. ChartweUs Food Services had just re newed their contract with UNC Asheville, according to a 2014 university press re lease. The company provided $3 miUion worth of renovations in exchange for a 10 year commitment from the university. A subsidiary of Compass Group, Chart- wells leads as a multinational corporation based in Imndon, with operations in more than 50 countries. Compass Group, the largest contract foodservice firm in the world, brought in more than $28 billion in revenue last year. Emma Hutchens, North Carolina co ordinator for the Real Food Challenge, said smdents may not see the connection with food provided in Brown Hall and the enormous corporation. IS INTERESTING TO ME IS THAT NOBODY'S HEARD OF COMPASS GROUP. THEY DON’T REALIZE THAT COMPANY EXISTS, MUCH LESS THAT THEY CONTROL THIS MUCH OF THE FOOD SYSTEM. »» Emma Hutchens “The thing that is interesting to me is that nobody’s heard of Compass Group. They don’t realize that company exists, much less that they control this much of the food system,” Hutchens said. “There have acmaUy been years in the past where Compass Group acmaUy makes more money globally than McDonald’s per year.” Incentives play a prominent role in Compass Group’s distribution of food. Hutchens said the corporate giant partic ipates in “kickbacks,” a system in which other large companies, such as Tyson or Pepsi, offer rebates to Compass Group to place their brands in school cafeterias. Hutchens said the kickback system often results in high-sugar, low-quality food for smdents. “These large companies like Chart- weUs Compass Group get these earmarks. They’re not really interested in doing the extra work that it takes to spend their money differently,” Hutchens said. “And business is Uke a sanctioned bribe.” The Compass Group did not imme diately respond for comment to Th^ Blue Banner on this topic. Critics of corporate food manufacmr- ers, including Compass Group, often cite poor food quality as a complaint. Chart weUs made headlines in 2014 when The Washington Post reported smdents at a Connecticut high school boycotted school lunches due to unsavory and sometimes moldy food. Many smdents took to social media to document and share their expe riences, which led to assurances of change from ChartweUs, according to The Washing ton Post. Jenna VentreUa, co-president of Active Smdents for a Healthy Environment, said UNCA can ensure quaUty food on campus by slowly shifting from corporate-con- troUed food providers to local and sus tainable farms. VentreUa would Uke the university to implement the Real Food ChaUenge, a nationwide program which encourages schools to provide at least 20 percent of food that is organic, local, free- trade or humanely sourced. “I’ve always just been reaUy passionate about food,” VentreUa said. “I’ve heard so many smdents talk about how they hate the food on campus and I think this is a good way, or a good step in the right direc tion, toward getting better food on cam pus that acmaUy nourishes us.” VentreUa said multiple smdent organi zations, including ASHE and the Smdent Environmental Center, have been negoti ating with administrators to endorse the initiative. However, progress staUed due to concerns about cost and practicaUty. Ven treUa said whUe cutting ties with Chart weUs wUl not be easy, greater smdent in volvement may lead to changes. “We control the supply and demand of the food that we eat and smdents have the abUity to break contracts with big instim-
University of North Carolina at Asheville Student Newspaper
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April 25, 2017, edition 1
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