As part of the Earth Day celebration month, all of the U-go’s convenience stores will be featuring special displays of the locally made, healthy and natural/organic products.
Last year, as a result of some space re-organization, U-go’s at the Union underwent a major expansion that allowed them to increase the quality of offerings to the campus community. The University Unions Student Food Advisory Committee helped decide what types of food were important to students.
“Through the committee’s field research it was determined that there was a strong interest in having foods available that were locally produced, made from organic or natural ingredients and were good for you… and that were available closer to campus than Whole Foods, for example,” says Darren Meyer, associate food services director. “We are finding that the students are amazed at the variety of these items we have in the store.”
Concern for the environment was evident in many aspects of the remodel. All materials from the demolition phase were either recycled or reused. In addition, new equipment purchases were evaluated for energy compliance to reduce the use of electricity. U-go’s also has added re-useable water bottles and shopping bags.
To help make it easier to locate particular types of items, U-go’s has bright labels that indicate if items are locally made, organic or healthy. In addition, U-go’s continues to offer a large selection of items that meet the nutrition guidelines of the University’s MHealthy|GOOD CHOICE program. A bulletin board at the U-go’s in the Union features profile information on many of the local providers.
U-go’s (Michigan Union, Michigan League and Pierpont Commons) is one of several operations developed and operated by University Unions. Others include Beanster’s Café (Michigan League and Pierpont Commons), Commons Café (Pierpont Commons), Bert’s Café (Shapiro Library) and Mujo Café (Duderstadt Center). Each of these operations will feature locally provided items during the special Sustainable Michigan/Earth Day Celebration on March 29. For more information, go to www.uunions.umich.edu.
Carrie Stefanski, right, marketing communications specialist, Information & Technology Services, on roller derby action: “I was able to get up quickly and rush to the front of the pack and knock down the opposing jammer. It was very satisfying.”
