University Dining Services and four UM graduate students teamed-up in the spring of 2003 to create the UM Farm to College Program, dedicated to buying more food locally to feed the campus community. Through this program, The University of Montana plays a greater role in supporting Montana's economy, strengthening the local community and helping to preserve Montana's natural and cultural heritage.
This program utilizes local foods through the form of a Farm to College retail section in the Cascade Country Store and new daily Farm to College menu items. UDS has also incorporated local foods into the Food Zoo, University Dining Services' all-you-care-to-eat venue.
The UM Farm to College Program supports agriculture and economic development statewide by purchasing Montana products to serve in our dining venues. We educate the campus community and others about Montana food and agriculture, thereby strengthening connections between the urban and rural areas of our state. We seek to reduce our environmental impacts by shortening the physical distance that our food travels.
