Fruit-topped drinks, eco-friendly coffee, citrus-flavored ice cream, free-range chicken and other locally sourced options will be the toast of the UC Riverside campus during the annual Food Week celebration, which lasts from Oct. 24 through 29.
The citrus-flavored ice cream, always a big hit, will be served from the Moo Moo Truck on the HUB Plaza from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24.
Nearby, the Culinary Chameleon Food Truck will serve tacos made with local produce. Information tables will be set up to let people sign up for the FarmShare program, or to ask questions about food and nutrition of a registered dietitian who works for the Faculty and Staff Wellness Program. Another booth from Hollandia Produce of Carpenteria will offer lettuce, grown hydroponically, and sold with the roots still intact.
Food week also launches a new weekly UC Riverside Farmers Market, which will last from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, in Lot 14, near the Glen Mor market. The UC Riverside Farmers Market will continue each Thursday, in the same area where people pick up FarmShare produce.
“We are working with local farmers to make sure that the food we are offering is fresh and grown sustainably,” said Duane Gornicki, Interim senior director of residential dining. “We have even been able to visit farms to see for ourselves.
He said in UC Riverside restaurants customers will notice special items on Tuesday, Oct. 25, along with an ongoing marketing campaign around “Seeds of Change,” which emphasizes sustainable, organic or fair trade foods and beverages. “Food Day is not just a day; it’s a yearlong catalyst for healthier diets and a better food system,” he said.
The UC Riverside Library is getting in on the Food Week activities with a new exhibit called “Orange Roots” that will open on Monday, Oct. 24. A reception for the exhibit is set for Nov 10 and it will include a citrus tasting activity led by UC Riverside citrus expert Tracy Kahn.
At 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, The Well will offer a cooking demonstration for UC Riverside students all about Middle Eastern-inspired meals. It is sponsored by the R’Pantry and the Middle Eastern Student Center. It will be in HUB 269. For additional information, please contact Grecia Marquez at grecia.marquez@ucr.edu.
The R’Garden, located near Lot 30, will hold an open house event on Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Meet UC Riverside students, faculty and staff involved in local and global food systems and get inspired about a food access, security and literacy. The event will be catered by a local Riverside chef and facilitated by students involved in the UC Global Food Initiative.
On Thursday, Oct. 27, the center of campus will be given over to a food truck festival. All profits will be donated to the R’Pantry, a source of food for UCR students who are experiencing food insecurity. The R’Pantry is located at the HUB, across from Scotty’s convenience store.
The UC Global Food Initiative, launched in 2014, aims to:
- Identify best practices and share widely within UC, California, the nation, and the world;
- Use the power of UC research and extension to help individuals and communities access safe, affordable, and nutritious food while sustaining our natural resources; and
- Deploy UC’s research to shape, impact and drive policy discussions around food issues at the local, state, national and international levels.
The typical American diet is contributing to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other health problems. Choosing a healthy diet can put the planet on a more humane, sustainable path. To learn more about your diet’s impact on your health and the environment, answer 14 Questions that Could Save Your Life and the Planet.
UC Riverside has an active cross-campus committee focused on the UC Global Food Initiative and how the Riverside campus contributes to healthy food options through its research, teaching and public service activities.
This quarter’s FarmShare runs through Dec. 8. It is not too late to sign up.
