Thanks to a collaborative effort between the Office of the Provost, the Division of Information Technology, Gamecock CommUnity Shop, the Office of Sustainability, Student Life and Carolina Food Co., Garnet Bites offers a solution that keeps food from the landfill and feeds students, faculty and staff for free.
What it is
Garnet Bites is a web-based platform designed to notify users that there is food available for pickup after a catered event on campus. All USC faculty, staff and students are welcome to participate in this effort to minimize food waste and address food insecurity.
Throughout the fall semester, students, faculty and staff took part in a pilot targeting events in and around Russell House. After considering feedback and making adjustments the program, Garnet Bites is now launching campus-wide.
Why it matters
In 2024, the University of South Carolina was selected to participate in the White House Project to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities, and the university has committed to new initiatives and approaches to not only address hunger on campus but mitigate food waste.
- With hundreds of catered events taking place across campus every year, a formal process for distributing extra food could significantly decrease the university’s environmental impact. It will also streamline the question of leftovers for event planners hosting green-certified events.
- Traditional dining halls on campus have also begun reducing food waste by offering made-to-order meals and composting leftover food.
What they’re saying
“Garnet Bites is a call to action for anybody on campus to take part in reducing our food waste. From a sustainability perspective, we not only help feed people but we reduce our carbon footprint. That’s huge on a campus of our size.” – Jessie McNevin, Associate Director for Sustainability.
Get involved
There are currently two ways to get involved in the program: