The Inside Scoop

Earthfoods Café has been a vegetarian favorite of UMass Amherst students, staff, and faculty since 1976. And, with a mission of providing affordable, delicious, and healthy food to the community, it’s no wonder why. The unique organizational structure—all employees are co-managers, known as “earthlings”—seems to be a recipe for success, as it gives the staff experience and opportunities they wouldn’t get elsewhere.  

The Boston Globe recently covered the enduring café. Here’s an excerpt. 

For more than 40 years, students have kept this UMass institution going. From the days of so-called health food to the era of plant-based diets, students and staff at this school of 25,000 full-timers have been able to pop into the Student Union for a hot vegetarian meal, or at the very least, a cheap, tasty bowl of beans and rice. 

The menu—posted on Instagram—includes enchilada bake, curry-style tofu, mac and squash, and chana masala. They try to have a vegan option. A small serving goes for $8.50 and a huge portion goes for $10. Everyday offerings include fresh baked sweets like chai spiced cookies or red velvet cake for $3. Yesterday’s leftovers are sold at a discount—today, that’s cinnamon roll cupcakes. 

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At about 9:30, Laila Gold, a New Jersey native in a UMass cap, shows up for her shift. She’s in charge of the rice, beans, and kale that day. (That’s the “RBK.”) Gold said she didn’t intend to have a job during college. But then she read the Earthfoods application. 

“The application itself convinced me to apply,” Gold said. [Co-manager Caitlyn] Fair nodded and said it took her an hour to fill out. 

“Each member of Earthfoods is a co-manager; we all work with each other rather than working for someone. Co-managers have the unique opportunity to learn and participate in all facets of operating a restaurant, from cooking, serving, and cashiering,” the application reads. Different committees handle tasks like bookkeeping, ordering, and advertising. 

Read the full article in the Boston Globe, and take a peek into life as an earthling below.