Food & Procurement

Sustainable Food Initiatives

CSUDH Farmers Market

• Info: The Office of Sustainability is the organizing sponsor for the weekly CSUDH Farmers Market (managed by vendor VenaVer Events) held every Tuesday 9am-3pm during the semester on the South Walkway.  
  • EBT, WIC, Venmo, and all major credit cards accepted. Download and share the event flyer here.
• EBT/Market Match: By supporting the market, the campus can help address food desert issues affecting our local community, support local businesses, and increase community access to sustainably farmed food.
  • The market also provides valuable EBT services as well as a Market Match benefit which doubles the value of EBT dollars spent at the market!  Students are encouraged to stop by the CalFresh booth to find out more.  
• Events/Pop Up Thrift: Visit the Sustainability booth weekly for fun activities, giveaways and more!  The Office of Sustainability also hosts regular Pop Up Thrift events at the market on the first Tuesdays of the month during the semester, as well as the first week of the semester where Toros can pick up donated items to keep for FREE!  Event flyer available here.  

FAQ: Where is the Farmers Market/South Walkway? 

The South Walkway connects the East Walkway and West Walkway and is just north of the Library and just south of the Bookstore.  

FAQ: I know of someone who wants to be a vendor at the market.  Who do they contact? 

Farmers Market vendors are insured and organized by our Farmers Market organizer VenaVer Events.  They have an application process on their website for vendors interested in applying to be one of their vendors:  https://venaver.org/vendor-info/app/ 

FAQ: I want to table at the Farmers Market.  Who do I contact? 

The Office of Sustainability has one extra guest space on the walkway for specialty booths that is sometimes available depending on weekly programming.  Please contact sustainability@csudh.edu directly with information on your request.  Entities tabling may have to bring their own outdoor furniture (i.e. table, chairs, canopy), and cannot sell products without a campus agreement.  Entities must also comply with CSUDH's Time, Place & Manner Policy.   

Other Initiatives

• CSUDH is a formally recognized chapter of the national Food Recovery Network. Campus Dining regularly collects any extra food that can’t be sold and directly distributes it to the ToroCARE Pantry. That way, the campus can reduce food waste while getting free food to those who need it most!
  
  
• The Campus Urban Farm donates all its produce and the eggs from its chickens to the ToroCARE pantry to ensure our in-need students have regular access to fresh produce.

Sustainable Procurement

Buy Campus Office Supplies From Staples (Campus Provider): CSUDH participates in the CSU's Sustainable Auto-Sub Program, which automatically replaces cart items purchased through the Staples Business Advantage program with green alternatives.  This only works if you go through the official CSU Buy Staples account, so please make sure your office is procuring your office supplies through that system instead of going through Amazon, other vendors, etc.  

CSU Single Use Plastics Policy: The CSU system has a Single Use Plastic Policy which eliminates the purchase of plastic straws and bags effective January 1, 2019 and single-use plastic water bottles effective January 1, 2023. Read policy details here [PDF].

• In support of the policy, aluminum water bottles are available to campus users for bulk purchase through Aramark. You may now place your orders through their catering website, www.csudh.catertrax.com. Each case is $35 with taxes included. There is a minimum of five (5) cases per order and each case of water contains 24 Aquafina aluminum bottles. All orders should be placed a week in advance and picked up at the Main Kitchen which is located inside of the Loker Student Union.
  
  Acceptable forms of payment:
  • State or Foundation account
  • Business check
  • Credit card
  
  Bulk water orders cannot be combined with any catering orders. Purchases for less than five cases can be made and picked up in person on the same day at the DH Sports Lounge. Acceptable forms of payment for purchases at the DH Sports Lounge will be either cash or credit card only.  For more information (or if you have questions or concerns), please contact Catering Coordinator Moises Rodriguez at mrodriguez350@csudh.edu or at (310) 243-3335. 
  

What You Can Do:

• Planning an event on campus? Make sure you consult our Green Event Checklist [PDF] to make sure you're requesting the most eco-friendly options and supplies (including water options compliant with the CSU Single Use Plastics Policy).
  • Register your event and get certified to earn a free Green Event logo to support your marketing as well as recognition rewards. 
• Take Back the Tap! Fill up at hydrations stations on campus instead of buying single-use water bottles. There's one on every stateside campus water fountain.
• When making purchases, select items that are reusable, are composed of recycled-content or sustainable materials, and/or have 3rd party environmental certifications. 
• Save money and the environment by buying second-hand, at thrift stores, etc., or by simply asking around to see if anyone else is trying to give away what you need. Join us at the first and last Farmers Market of the semester as well as markets on the first Tuesdays of each month for our regular Pop Up Thrift events to either donate or pick-up thrift items from the Toro community! 

In addition to these recommendations, check out the “Reduce” section of our Waste Management page for information on your reusable container options, ergonomic office chair loaner program, and more!

CSUDH Sustainability on Instagram: