Libraries Ask Us

Food Systems

Food systems resources -- including "local food" -- at the UMass Libraries and beyond.

Want to get your hands dirty (and earn credit)?

Select an experience from a variety of options:

Student Farm Enterprise

Gardening, including Permaculture Initiative, Garden Share and more!

Real Food Challenge

Breaking News about UMass Dining!

Measuring Carbon Foodprint of Individual Dishes
Bolstering UMass Amherst’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2032, UMass Amherst Dining Services has made the commitment to measure the carbon impact of their menu. In doing so they will be the first college or university dining program in the country to include carbon footprint for individual dishes.

Resources at UMass Amherst

Cold Spring Orchard Research and Education Center
Research facility of UMass Amherst, a place to buy delicious fruit, and a great spot to enjoy a spectacular view of the Holyoke Mountain Range.
Food Science Club
In the process of becoming an RSO. Contact Alissa Allen alissaa@student.umass.edu for more information.
Garden Share Project
Registered Student Organization that grows organic produce on campus. Credit option available. For more information 545-3600.
New England Food Entrepreneurs
Gateway featuring information and resources for the speciality food industry. Part of New England Extension Food Safety Consortium, a network of specialists and educations and food science faculty representing land-grant universities in New England.
People's Market
Student Food Science Club
Registered Student Organization at UMass.
Student Government Association - Leadership
Advocates for new policies and practices that will make the UMass Amherst campus community more just and sustainable.
UMass Dining Services
UMass Dining recently received a prestigious Ivy Award from Restaurants and Institutions, for its outstanding food service, support sustainability initiatives, and consistent efforts to improve and stay on top. Not only are they working with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources for the Farm-to-School project, UMass Dining does much of its own food processing on site, including running its own Bakeshop, cold food commissary and warehouse, to ensure a high quality of goods.
UMass Extension Fruit Program
Assists fruit growers with all aspects of horticultural and pest management. It is a cooperative program of the research and extension efforts of the Department of Plant, Soil, & Insect Sciences in the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Massachusetts. Ten individuals cooperate to form the UMass Fruit Program, a part of UMass Extension's Agriculure & Landscape Program.

UMass Program & Courses

Selected Programs

Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (including UMass Extension)
Stockbridge School of Agriculture (A.S, B.S., Online)

Selected Courses

Beyond Organic Farming (Honors 391D)
Community Food Systems (PLSOILIN 397C)
The Cost of Food (Honors 391D)
Food and Culture (ANTHRO 397FD)
Food and Society (SOCIOL 392E)
Food Cultures (COMM 694A)
Food Justice and Policy (STOCKSCH 397P)
Foods that Prevent Disease (Honors 391D)
Global Food Systems (PLSOILIN 390G)
Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants (PLSOILIN 280)
Hunger and Food Security (CSL 292S)
Introduction to Permaculture Design (UWW 397P)
Student Forest Garden Enterprise (PLSOILIN 398B)
World Food Habits (Food Sci 102)

See more details on SPIRE