By Macy Kramer

Eating green in a college town is notoriously difficult. The domination of the fast food industry over hearty, home cooked meals, from an economic perspective, is inevitable. Fast food tends to be popular amongst college students, causing unhealthy restaurants to amass huge profits. 

According to The New York Times, more than 70% of college students influence the economic climate by eating fast food at least once a day. Chains such as Chick-Fil-A, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s benefit massively from this demographic, raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars from college campus locations alone. This positive feedback loop, although beneficial for the economy, can be detrimental to college students’ health. 

A New Type of Food

In the midst of the craze for highly-processed, unhealthy foods, there is a steadily-growing counter-movement fighting for the inclusion of healthy foods in Fort Collins residents’ diets. 

One organization that contributes to this movement is Hope Farms, a locally-owned community farm and garden in Fort Collins. The farm charges a membership fee of $50 in exchange for access to the gardens and the food they yield. 

For those with less disposable income, a sliding scale is offered, so that those who need it (including college students) can pay as little as $1. This money is then reinvested into the farm, funding the production of more produce, more public outreach, and workshops on healthy eating.

Economic Outreach

Although Hope Farm’s economic benefits are certainly on a smaller scale than those of chain fast-food restaurants, the resulting public outreach compensates for that. By profiting from their business in a manner that still allows it to be accessible to everyone, Hope Farms promotes the importance of healthy eating as well as a prosperous economy. 

Fresh produce is typically expensive in grocery stores. By making their produce accessible to everyone, Hope Farms is better able to spread their message, resulting in more financial success. By spending money on mindfully-produced, less-processed foods, Fort Collins residents can make an economic statement about the importance of local food and help encourage healthy eating habits.