earthfoods cafe

Earthfoods​ ​is​ ​a​ ​collectively​ ​managed,​ ​student-run​ ​business​ ​located​ ​in​ 156 Bartlett temporarily on the Umass Amherst Campus​. Our​ ​mission​ ​is​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​low-cost,​ ​healthy,​ ​vegetarian,​ ​and​ ​vegan meals​ ​to​ ​UMass​ ​students​ ​and​ ​faculty​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​members​ ​of​ ​surrounding​ ​communities.

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Since opening in 1976, Earthfoods​ ​has been ​aware​ ​of​ ​the​ ​benefits​ ​of​ ​local​ ​food​ ​systems​ ​for​ ​which​ ​we​ ​are​ ​socially, environmentally,​ ​and​ ​economically​ ​responsible.​ ​

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Each​ ​member​ ​of​ ​Earthfoods​ ​is​ ​a​ ​co-manager;​ ​we​ ​all​ ​work​ ​​with​​ ​each​ ​other​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​working​ ​​for somebody.​ ​Co-managers​ ​have​ ​the​ ​unique​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​and​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​all​ ​facets​ ​of operating​ ​a​ ​restaurant,​ ​from​ ​cooking,​ ​serving,​ ​and​ ​cashiering,​ ​to​ ​bookkeeping,​ ​ordering, advertising,​ ​and​ ​more.​ ​​ ​We​ ​are​ ​responsible​ ​for​ ​keeping​ ​the​ ​business​ ​financially​ ​viable​ ​with guidance​ ​from​ ​our​ ​financial​ ​consultant.

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Decisions​ ​at​ ​Earthfoods​ ​are​ ​made​ ​democratically.​ ​Co-managers​ ​voice​ ​their​ ​opinions​ ​about​ ​issues and​ ​proposals​ ​at​ ​our​ ​mandatory​ ​Tuesday​ ​night​ ​All-Staff​ ​meetings.​ ​​ ​This​ ​meeting​ ​is​ ​also​ ​a​ ​time​ ​to experience​ ​group​ ​dynamics,​ ​explore​ ​collective​ ​and​ ​individual​ ​identity,​ ​deconstruct​ ​hierarchy, and​ ​give​ ​and​ ​receive​ ​evaluation​ ​and​ ​feedback.