"santa cruz" news and stories

The University of California at Santa Cruz (my dad's alma mater!) has just taken their commitment to serving good food on their campus to a new level. In a revolutionary (for the University of California system at least) farm-to-college program, they've contracted to buy organic produce from seven local farmers for their five on-campus dining facilities.

Since the Santa Cruz purchasing department wasn't set up to buy individually from smaller farmers, they've created a consortium called the Monterey Bay Organic Farming Consortium (MBOFC). One of the member growers acts as coordinator, "delivering the produce to the campus dining halls three or four times a week, invoicing the university and distributing payments to the growers." Colleges and universities have a huge amount of impact on food purchasing, if a good number of other institutions were to start sourcing their food in this way, it could have a huge impact on the food production market in this country.

[via The Ethicurean]

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A trip down to the shore is one of the best things you can do in the summer. The air is cooler than it is inland and tangy with salt. The people all seem to have smiles on their faces, playing in the water or simply relaxing on a towel in the sand. But even more attractive than the sand and surf is a boardwalk, if you're lucky enough to find a beach that has one. Boardwalks range in size from a few shops to small carnivals, with rides and games. The best thing about them is always the food. They offer both sweet and savory - none of it healthy and all of it delicious. The Travel Channel has a list of the best boardwalks, but here are some of the summer favorites you should be able to find at almost any of them.

1. Salt water taffy - Legend has it that this treat got its name when a candy store in Atlantic City was flooded with ocean water, but it was probably just a gimmick to sell the chewy candy.
2. Fudge - Fudge goes right alongside taffy in boardwalk candy stores. It's a staple of tourist areas, inexpensive and indulgent, and it holds up better than a chocolate bar in the sun.