Hanley Sustainability Institute

By Anne Majka

Where did this come from?

It's a question not often asked when purchasing and consuming. It’s easy to not think too much about sourcing, but consuming more consciously and asking questions can have a greater impact on the community and environment.

Buying locally creates more jobs and stimulates the regional economy. Compared to larger corporations, women and minority-owned businesses tend to pay higher wages and employ more people of color. Supporting and purchasing from a local business can help bridge the wealth and equity gap inflicted upon marginalized communities. Along with economic and social benefits, buying locally also has environmental benefits. Less transportation is needed when purchasing locally, which means less gas and fewer greenhouse emissions. Additionally, it's less packaging, which means less waste. 

Buying locally can be difficult in college, but there are more local products and businesses around the University of Dayton than you might think. While the university has a beverage contract with PepsiCo, up to 10% of beverages purchased can be from non-Pepsi vendors that are local. 

One of the local vendors sold at UD is Warped Wing, a Dayton craft brewery which also offers various sodas. Its name is attributed to the Wright brothers’ invention of “wing warping,” and the company notes that “innovations like these are part of our mission to share Dayton and Ohio stories through our beers and branding” (Warped Wing Brewing Company). Warped Wing sodas are available to purchase in the Marycrest dining hall, VWK dining hall and the Emporium. 

UD also supplies Boochy Mama’s Kombucha, which is based in Toledo. A primary objective of this women-owned business is good work is grassroots and the “Booch Crew is comprised of activists and advocates of grassroots, community-level efforts that bring about social and environmental change” (Boochy Mama’s Kombucha). Boochy Mama’s Kombucha is available to purchase in the VWK dining hall. 

Another product that can be bought at the VWK dining hall is Agua Bonita, which sells aguas frescas. This women-owned business is “inspired by Mexican textiles and a portion of every purchase of our beautiful product goes toward supporting migrant farm workers via non-profits” (Agua Bonita). The company actively chooses to invest in communities and the environment, as they serve their products in aluminum cans which are easier to recycle. In addition to VWK, Agua Bonita products can also be found at Dorothy Lane Market. 

Along with these beverage options, UD also offers food products that are local, minority-owned or women-owned. Young’s Jersey Dairy ice cream is available to buy in Marycrest dining hall, and the dairy's cheese is occasionally used in cheese curds at VWK and Marycrest dining hall. Young's is a combination  farm, ice cream shop, cheese store, restaurant and entertainment venue located in Yellow Springs. It offers a lot of events and activities for families and children to enjoy, investing in the well-being of the community.

UD also offers Mehaffies Pies at Marycrest dining hall. The company, located in Dayton, has been selling pies and cheesecakes since 1930. It also has a Pie Peddler fundraising program available for schools and non-profits within the area, and it has allowed thousands of organizations “to raise in excess of $6 million dollars in support of their group programs and activities” (Mehaffies Pies). 

Additionally, UD sells Sweet P’s Handcrafted Ice Pops at VWK dining hall. It is a family owned and operated business located in Dayton. All of its ice pops are made in-house using fresh ingredients that are mostly local and organic.

Another food product that UD offers is Barry Bagels, a bagel shop located in Kettering. The shop originated in 1972 in in Toledo as a family-run neighborhood bagel shop. It has since expanded throughout the surrounding areas. These bagels are sold at Marycrest dining hall, VWK dining hall and FlyBy in the Hangar in KU.

Along with food, UD also purchases from Blue Bus Coffee Roasters, a small-batch, artisan, family-owned business located in Clayton. Blue Bus Coffee is used by Heritage Coffeehouse and Startup Grounds. It prioritizes supplying flavorful single-origin beans that “uphold sustainable practices that empower and fairly compensate farmers and their communities” (Blue Bus Coffee Roasters). Blue Bus also seeks out roasts from women-owned cooperatives.

UD also uses Bella Sorella pizza dough at Toss in the Kennedy Union. Bella Sorella Pizza is a women-owned business founded by two sisters in Dayton. Since starting in 2012, it has donated over “$22,000 to our local YMCA, Aullwood Audubon Center & Farm, PBS, Pelotonia bike ride for cancer research, and other local charitable organizations” (Bella Sorella Pizza). It also donates unused surplus of dough, toppings and other ingredients to Miami Valley Meals.

Another local product used for turkey burgers at ‘Que in KU is Bowman & Landes Turkey. Located just outside of Dayton in New Carlisle, it been raising free-range turkeys for the last four generations. Bowman & Landes Turkey is dedicated to sustainability and land stewardship, as it prioritizes “maintaining soil structure with no-till and minimum-till practices, utilizing cover crops and maintaining waterways. We utilize turkey manure to fertilize our fields,” as well as installing solar-electric generating systems. The company is also Non-GMO Project verified, including raising their turkeys free-range with no antibiotics or hormones.

It is especially important for UD students to buy the local products available on campus. With interest and investment from students, the initiative of UD buying locally can thrive. Additionally, once more student interest is gained, the university can adjust and expand the local products it buys based on what students want. By choosing to buy local, on and off campus, you support the community and small businesses and contribute to a more sustainable environment.