Local & Alternative food on NUIG Campus

Mr. John Gibney,
Director of Physical Resources,
Buildings Office,
NUI Galway,

Dear Mr. Gibney

We the students and staff of NUIGalway would like to add our voices to the growing number of people in Ireland who support the availability of locally produced fresh and organic food of high quality. We would like to support the further growth of this sector as part of developing sustainable and environmentally friendly food industry. We believe this is part of a larger movement away from fast food to healthier alternative and the growing number of students who are choosing a vegetarian diet.

Unfortunately we feel that the campus at NUIG does not currently provide foods that meet these standards at prices that are affordable to the average unwaged student. We would like to see greater availability on campus of locally sourced foods, healthier meals and great choice for those students who choose not to eat meat.

The undersigned students would like to invite a number of fresh food traders from Galways popular Saturday market on to campus one day a week with the aim of providing a local, healthy and mainly vegetarian food option for students. We believe this will not only mean supporting small local traders, locally produced food and healthy affordable alternatives for students but will also contribute to a healthier and greener campus by raising awareness among students of the importance of sustainable farming and production in a world where most of our food is imported and the promotion of healthier eating habits among students as seen during the Student Union healthy living week.

With this in mind we are asking the Buildings Office to grant permission to a limited number of food vendors from the Saturday market permission to sell freshly prepared hot meals on campus on a weekly basis.