When it comes to food at UMass Amherst, sustainable dining practices and education go hand in hand.
You'll find the best campus food in the nation, supported by local options and educational gardening facilities.
Food and Sustainability
Sustainability is one of the core values of UMass Amherst's best-in-the-nation dining services. That No. 1 ranking is not only about delicious food and endless options—it's about sustainable, locally sourced food that supports the local economy while driving us toward a better future.
UMass Permaculture Garden
Founded in 2010, UMass Permaculture is all about building and maintaining highly productive, highly educational edible gardens right on campus. The gardens are all installed by students, staff, and volunteers. Just as importantly, they allow the university to have a living embodiment of sustainable principles. It's not just about an aspirational future—it's happening here and now.
Turning Food Waste into Renewable Energy
All of our pre-consumer waste—from food preparation and post-consumer food waste from the dish return in our dining commons—ends up being turned into renewable energy at Barstow's Longview Farm in Hadley, just seven miles from our campus. The process of turning waste into energy is called anaerobic digestion.
Assistant Vice Chancellor of Auxiliary Enterprises