The links listed below represent an attempt to bring together some of the best knowledge out there for student food activists. Whether you want to deepen your understanding the complex world of dining services or get a handle on issues of farm workers rights and industrial food systems, here is where to start. No need to reinvent the wheel!

Additional resources, including more detailed “How to” guides, will be added in the coming months. If you’d like to suggest a resource, a link, or a topic area, let us know! Contact mgrossman@thefoodproject.org

Check out our database of schools with sustainability programs.

DINING SERVICES

A Guide to Developing a Sustainable Food Purchasing Policy
The Guide, developed by AASHE and Food Alliance, is intended to help universities, colleges, hospitals, and other institutions – as well as those advocating for food system change – create, promote and implement practical sustainable food purchasing policies. It draws from the successes and lessons learned by a variety of institutions, and from the experience of for‐profit and non‐profit partners that have worked with institutions in this arena.

The Community Food Security Coalition’s Farm-to-College Resource List
This includes their publications, outside publications, student research and program information.

Food Routes’ Farm-to-College Resources for Students
Includes promotional sheets for students interested in starting Farm to College programs at their educational institution. Use them as campaign fliers to get other students, faculty and food service personnel working for your cause. Other tools for food and farming advocates.

Farm to School Resources
Includes publications, news & events, funding opportunities, groups and organizations, and policy/legislation.

Yale Sustainable Food Project’s Purchasing Guidelines

Sustainable Food Policy Resources
Includes policy profiles of select universities and companies, reports from programs, and purchasing guides.

Farm to School Toolkit for the Northeast
Cornell’s Farm-to-School program has put together a toolkit which includes a section on understanding the basics, food service and college dining realities, building relationships, and further resources.

Sustainable Food Systems
In response to the growing demand for locally-grown and sustainable foods, Sustainable Food Systems, a unique consulting and technical assistance service, helps organizations and institutions consider and implement social, ecological and delicious modifications to their current food service delivery.


FIND LOCAL FOOD

Eat Well Guide
An online directory of local and sustainably produced food.

Buy Local Food and Farm Toolkit: A Guide for Student Organizers
This report by Oxfam America offers provides strategies on getting sustainable food into schools and offers resources to help you on your campus.

LocalHarvest
Will help you find farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies.

Farm Finder
List of great resources from the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group.

ATTRA’s Local Food Directory
Listings for local food directories and promotional programs, searchable by state.


COLLEGE FARMS

The New Farm’s Directory of Student Farms
Most guides to colleges don’t index schools by farming opportunities, so here’s The New Farm’s preliminary guide to farms on campus. The list is arranged regionally; each entry includes the name of the farm, year founded, acres in cultivation, primary markets, and web address if available. We’ve focused here on campus farms that provide substantial, hands-on, small-scale farming experience to undergraduate and graduate students; many also offer programs for children and the general public.

ATTRA’s resources on soils and compost


FAIR TRADE AND FARM WORKERS’ RIGHTS

Fair Trade Certified
All the info on fair trade you’d want to know!

Coalition of Immokalee Workers
The CIW is a community-based worker organization who fights for, among other things: a fair wage, more respect on the part of their bosses and the industries where they work, better and cheaper housing, stronger laws and stronger enforcement against those who would violate workers’ rights, the right to organize on the job without fear of retaliation, and an end to indentured servitude in the fields.


FOOD POLICY

USDA Website on America’s Farm Bill

Ag Observatory
A monitor of U.S. and world agriculture from the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy.


DEFINITIONS

Sustainable Agriculture: Definitions and Terms

Organic Agriculture: A Glossary of Terms for Farmers and Gardeners

Sustainable Table: The Issues
Overview of many issues including workers, irradiation, waste, the environment, animal welfare, etc.

Community Supported Agriculture Information


STUDENT ACTIVISM

Slow Food on Campus
Slow Food on Campus is a network of Campus Convivia, chapters of Slow Food USA run by college and university students across the country. Campus Convivia represent a passionate cross-section of youth addressing food system and food justice issues, spanning environmental and social causes.

The Student PIRGs’ Activist Toolkit: A Crash Course in Effective Citizenship
Information on recruitment, leadership development, grassroots organizing, and working with the media.

Framing: An Introduction for Sustainable Agriculture Advocates
A tool for affirming and expanding people’s viewpoint.

United Students for Fair Trade Organizing Guide
Advice on: Developing a Non-Hierarchical Structure in your group, Leadership, Recruitment, How to run a meeting, Financing your organization, Media, Food Service Providers, Campaigning, Actions

How to Write a Great Press Release

Student/Farmworker Alliance Resources: Organizing to Win
Basic primers for getting started, developing campaign strategy, building effective organizations, doing press work, planning direct actions, and more.

Midwest Academy – GROW Strategy Chart
Use this chart as a guide to developing a strategy.

Media That Matters Film Festival
Short films on food that you can use on your campus!

Campus Activism.org
This interactive website has tools for progressive activists. It has great resources to use and share for activism on campus.


FEATURED ORGANIZATIONS

On the Design Team:
The Food Project
California Student Sustianability Coalition
Brown Sustainable Food Initiative
Sustainable Food Systems
Community Food Security Coalition – Farm to College Project
Slow Food USA
Yale Sustainable Food Project
Iowa State University Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture
University of New Hapshire Office of Sustainability

Others:
Health Care Without Harm
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
Oxfam
United Students for Fair Trade
Sustainable Agriculture Education Association
University Leaders for a Sustainable Future
Food Alliance
Coaltion of Immokalee Workers
Equal Exchange
Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences
Student/Farmworker Alliance