Comments on: Tomato slices slashed from campus dining menu in winter

By: Russell

Russell — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:23:22 +0000

“It is not Bon Appetit’s place to make decisions like this. It is simply their job to provide us with food.”

^ I really disagree with this. They’re tomatoes… I love tomatoes and all, but nobody is going to be collapsing from nutritional imbalance without them. If Bon Appetit could lower their prices by stocking the menus with imported, cheapest-thing-available foods (which would mean supporting a lot of companies with deplorable employment practices), would we consider it Bon Appetit’s job to do so?

If people feel that they’re being gipped out of their boarding money, maybe Bon Appetit should be required to get the approval of the WU Administration. But had we imposed that extra requirement, it’s entirely likely that the request would have been approved, and we’d be without tomatoes anyway.

It’s not like this is a new thing for Bon Appetit, either… They’re totally forward about how they choose their food sources, what they’re doing now fits completely into that same philosophy. I’d like to think that we as students should support that.

By: local food lover

local food lover — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:22:20 +0000

really, no one in missouri should be eating tomatoes in the winter anyhow.

tomatoes are a summer crop in this part of the country, and once the warm months roll around wash u and their counterparts should be buying tomatoes from local sources.

winter tomatoes are not good at all.

eat seasonally – it’s better for you.

By: gross

gross — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:11:08 +0000

Good. Tomatoes are gross, and now we won’t have to specifically ask to have them withheld.

By: Wake up!

Wake up! — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:02:23 +0000

Bon Appetite does not charge extra if you get tomatoes on your burger or salad. We pay for meal plans up front and receive no refund because tomatoes are not offered. This is simply a way for Bon Appetite to cut cost while keeping revenue constant. This has nothing to do with being “green” or socially responsible. Tomatoes are expensive! Come on people, stop being so naive.

By: James

James — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:44:24 +0000

Might I suggest hitting up a local market (farmer’s or otherwise) and purchasing your own tomatoes? Then bring them to the cafeteria? Or have mama/papa $’bags spring for a delicious BLT from Crown Candy or Blues City Deli instead? And stay away from the ketchup, it’s mostly sugar anyway.

By: Jean h

Jean h — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:48:13 +0000

ok you people; get it straight. finally the dining takes a stand rather then just talk like most do and we blame them; how in appropriate. Get your tomato from ketchup you smart people but maybe you might not be. No one said that Wash u has all smart people.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:44:11 +0000

I would support this if Bon Appetit wasnt a bunch of bandits themselves. They charge outrageous prices and dont really pay their workers fairly. Where does this company get off trying to own the moral high ground… they are just as bad as the Tomato company!

By: PA

PA — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:52:03 +0000

First off, I’m a huge tomato fan. I eat some form of tomatoes at least once a day.

If Bon Appetit didn’t have such a food monopoly on campus, I would not have a problem with this.

However, we don’t really have a choice in the matter at all.
For those of us who live on campus, we pay an outrageous amount for a meal plan. I’m on the smallest plan for upperclassmen and still have 50 extra meal points (so going off campus is a huge waste of money).

It is not Bon Appetit’s place to make decisions like this. It is simply their job to provide us with food.

Guess I’ll be boycotting in the only way I really can – eating at Subway a lot more.

By: disappointed

disappointed — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:43:35 +0000

Some of these comments are disappointing to hear…

I am 100% supportive of Bon Appetit/WashU’s decision. It is the responsibility of the owners of large companies to support the rights of workers, theirs AND those employed within their partnerships. To comment on the words of another reader; “there are plenty of other year-round tomato farms in other states like New Jersey”… the reason they are able to grow year-round is because they grow “hot house” tomatoes. Think about it. How else could a state like New Jersey grow tomatoes in the snow? It’s done in green houses with the aid of pesticides. I, personally, would rather be eating naturally-grown food. It feels good to know that I get that at WashU.

I am happy to say “good bye” to my tomatoes for a season… and I LOVE tomatoes! But we must look at the bigger picture. Not only is this movement going to aid in the rights of workers, but it supports the “local” movement. Besides, transporting produce when it is not in-season only creates a larger carbon footprint.

I say, if tomatoes are NOT in season and local, then we shouldn’t be eating them.

And honestly, it’s not the end of the world. It think we’ll pull through.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:54:13 +0000

This is a fantastic move by Bon Appetit, fueled by the activism of civically engaged and aware students on campus. Glad to see the Wash U community is standing for ethical business.