The student group Reconnect and the campus representatives of the ARAMARK Corporation have been trying to figure out how to get along for some time now, and now that Auxiliary Services is involved, an agreement might finally be reached.
Tension between ARAMARK, the campus’ main food provider, and Reconnect, a student group dedicated to educating the community on environmental issues, tightened on October 22 during the first of the student group’s two fall farmers markets in the Student Union Mall.
There, a representative from Capitol City Produce (CCP), ARAMARK’s main produce provider, was giving produce away to passers-by while farmers were selling the same produce to help support their livelihoods.
Cecelia Palermo, a junior sociology major, serves as Reconnect’s farmers market intern.
“We originally had a meeting with ARAMARK’s executive chef a few weeks before the market, and he had requested an informational table to talk about his relationship with Capitol City with the students,” said Palermo. “We agreed that this was fine, but we never really got full confirmation about what was going on. On market day, he showed up with Capitol City with half of a farmers market and they were going to give away for free, right next to the farmers who were trying to sell their produce to make their living.”
 One of the farmers at the market, Darnella Burkett Winston, is a fourth generation farmer who raises vegetables and herbs; basil, kale, mustard, squash and cucumbers to name a few. According to Winston, it’s getting harder for small farmers to sell their products, even at farmers markets.
“Now there’s all of these rules and regulations, which I’m not against at all,” said Winston. “But some require you to grow within so many miles of the market, or be chemical free, which is a good thing, but there are some things you have to use chemicals for.”
Winston’s farm does not use pesticides, but instead uses a natural concoction of cayenne pepper, water and garlic to keep the pests away. However, using this mixture makes Winston unable to label her produce as organic, which narrows the number of markets where she can sell. When you throw in the other requirements small farmers must follow in order to sell, it becomes even more difficult to profit.
“In an upscale market we can make anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000 a month, in a low scale market we can make about $100 to $500,” said Winston. “After you pay for the bills, it’s not much profit. But it’s mostly about being able to grow your own food and bring it to markets that want it.”
When contacted about ARAMARK’ s perception of the situation, Martin Balisteri, Director of campus dining, deferred to Robin Parker Rodrigue, the director of marketing and strategic initiatives for Auxiliary Services.
“ARAMARK is familiar with the farmers market and is extremely supportive of its purpose of featuring local farmers who have an opportunity to sell their produce to the campus community at the market,” said Rodrigue. “Unfortunately, the lines of communication became tangled and Capitol City arrived to the farmers market with produce to give away and information to provide to the campus community about their work with local farmers.”   
According to Rodrigue, Connie Davis, Director of Auxiliary Services, who manages the contract between the University and ARAMARK, was contacted by a Reconnect representative voicing concern over the situation.  Davis contacted Balisteri, who acted immediately in asking the CCP representative to cease the giving away of the produce.  
A CCP representative was also present at the farmers market on Nov. 15, but in a purely informational role. Ever since then, meetings have been held to find common ground between ARAMARK and Reconnect so that the two can work together to benefit the university.
“Since the Nov. 15 farmers market, there have been meetings between Reconnect, ARAMARK and Auxiliary Services with plans for a number of projects in the plans for the Spring 2013 semester,” said Rodrigue. “In addition to participating in future farmers markets, ARAMARK will be developing promotions to feature local farmers whose produce is being served in Campus Dining, introducing a Reusable To Go Container program and developing enhancements to the current composting system.”
Only time will tell if anything will come of the meetings, but Reconnect is hopeful that they will bear fruit.
“We are working toward reconciliation with ARAMARK through Auxiliary Services,” said Reconnect President Erin Uzee, a biology junior. “While we haven’t spoken directly with ARAMARK yet, I think our meeting with Auxiliary Services has made an impact.”