Fresh Food! by Cristen C. '10

Dining is a hot topic here, and rightfully so ’cause a tooling MIT student has got to eat. In fact, all college students need to eat (hopefully that wasn’t surprising to hear). No matter which school you attend, most likely you’ll be at the mercy of whatever treats the school gives you.

Today, something magical is happening.

Students, DSL team up to bring produce stand to campus

Anne Wilson, Campus Dining
March 27, 2009

A cooperative effort between students and Division of Student Life is bearing fruit in the form of a campus produce stand that will open for business beginning Tuesday, March 31.

The MIT Market will sell fruits and vegetables from noon to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays in the East Campus Courtyard near Walker Memorial. The stand will be run by Russo’s, the Watertown-based retailer that won the “Best Produce” category in Boston magazine’s 2007 Best of Boston rankings.

Sophomore Vrajesh Modi, an Undergraduate Association Senator from East Campus, proposed the project to Dean for Student Life Chris Colombo in January after working with other students to poll East Campus residents about ways to make fruits and vegetables more accessible and affordable. Modi, who called the fruit and vegetable stand idea a “unanimous choice,” then worked with staff in Residential Life and Campus Dining to make the project a reality.

“Ideally, we would like to see the student body at large use this and see it have a positive impact on health and wellness at MIT,” said Modi. “We would also like to see this become a permanent part of the culture and the dining system.”

(You can read the rest here.)

As for me, I’m flippin’ EXCITED! I don’t care much for most fruits as they make my throat itch, but there are many vegetables which I love. Right now, it’s 11:54AM. I happened to get out of class early today. I’m sitting in my room facing the EC courtyard, tapping my feet. Consider this a bit of a liveblog.

11:55AM: Check wallet. Cash? Check.

11:56AM: *wonders if just one $20 bill would be enough*

11:57AM: *goes outside*!

~12:00PM: Vrajesh ’11 (not pictured) opens the grand opening ceremony with a short thanks to everyone who helped, then Dean Colombo cuts the “ribbon”. Shopping commences.

12:19PM: THIS LINE IS REALLY LONG. And somehow it got colder, but I’m just glad it’s so nice out.

~12:25PM: I now have a huge head of romaine lettuce, a bunch of snow peas, one red bell pepper, a variety of potatoes, a pound of carrots, and a bulb of garlic. And it only cost me $6! And I only stopped because I couldn’t carry more in my hands, because I hadn’t thought to bring some bigger, more environmentally friendly bag.. -_-.

~12:35PM: The lettuce is so huge it pretty much takes up the entirety of my dorm-sized crisper. With everything else inside, it doesn’t really close anymore.. ah well.

12:37PM: Even Lulu’s cat wants to see what all the fuss is about.

I plan to go back and buy a few more things, like green beans and maybe some herbs. Hmm, what should I make for dinner? :)