Operators say sales continue to rise at a Houston Hall food stand that sells produce from Philadelphia's backyard.
The stand, which features both local foods and organic products, has increased its sandwich sales by 190 percent and its soup sales by about 43 percent since its opening last spring, according to Laurie Cousart, director of the Division of Business Services.
FarmEcology -- a student organization focused on supporting local farms -- and Dining Services launched the stand last April.
FarmEcology was founded as a result of a project College senior Emma Kirwan and College junior and former Daily Pennsylvanian Photo Editor Rachel Meyer worked on in a "Politics of Food and Agriculture" course taught by professor Mary Summers.
Since the stand's inception, "the sale of the food ... has been excellent. We usually run out of food after the daily lunch rush," Kirwan said.
FarmEcology members say local produce is preferable because the food can be brought straight to Dining Services, avoiding irradiation and preservatives.
"Supporting local farms helps preserve the landscape, and it's important to support the local community by keeping money within the regional economy," Kirwan added.
Recently, the stand added bread rolls from locally owned Metropolitan Bakery, which, according to Kirwan, "have been selling like wildfire."
The group also works to educate Penn students about supporting the local food industry.
"A lot of farmers can't be certified by the [United States Department of Agriculture] because it's an expensive certification," Kirwan said. They can still, however, sell the food at Penn.
Without certification, these local farmers lose business, hurting Philadelphia's economy, Kirwan said.
FarmEcology regularly holds events in Houston Hall to inform Penn students about why eating local food is a benefit to the community.
Greg Salisbury, the owner of Rx -- a restaurant at 45th and Spruce streets that primarily uses organic and seasonal foods -- recently came to speak to Penn students.
FarmEcology members also plans to move the stand next year in Houston in order to make it bigger and more visible.
