Article by Sarah Stuttaford, 4th year International Relations student and Work Learn Program staff with the Office of Wellbeing Strategy.
Photos by Zoe Wagner and Kaitlin Wu.
The Food Hub Market has reopened and will run Monday-Thursday from 10:30 am- 6:30 pm at the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS). The market is a student-led grocery store aiming to provide at-cost foods on the Vancouver campus. Come celebrate the official re-launch on November 23rd, 2022 from 1-3 pm to enjoy free snacks and coffee, and a chance to win some awesome door prizes!
But how is the Food Hub Market different from other on-campus grocery stores? Here are three great reasons why you should visit the market:
1. At-cost groceries
Unlike other grocery stores, food and personal care times are at-cost, meaning they are the same prices as what we order them for. These at-cost groceries include staple items such as milk, rice, and granola as well as Thai curry paste, salsa, fresh produce, and naan bread, with new items featured in the store every week. If you have an item you want to see in the store, you can also suggest it on a whiteboard at the front of the store! There are even fun recipes throughout the grocery store that you can snap a picture of for later when you are deciding on what to make for dinner.
2. Student-led and volunteer-based
The Food Hub Market is also unique in that it is a student-led initiative with staff collaboration. All the people you see working behind the register and stocking shelves are volunteers from the UBC community, and there is always room for new members on the team (apply here)! Volunteers only require brief training before working at the market with short and flexible shifts to accommodate busy class schedules. There are also opportunities for partnerships where student groups can host events in the space such as cooking demos or movie nights using the on-site screen.
3. Welcoming community space for social connection
Most importantly, everyone is welcome to access the Food Hub Market and participate in the community space. The market aims to not only promote food skills and knowledge, but also social connection, cultural vibrance, and inclusion on campus. So, everyone is welcome to shop the at-cost groceries, $1 coffee pick-me-ups, nearby chairs and tables to socialize or study at, and the frequent events hosted in the space.
So, now that you’re ready to visit the Food Hub Market, be sure to stop by November 23rd from 1-3 pm for the opening celebration to enjoy free coffee and snacks. Or visit us during our normal hours M-TH 10:30am-6:30pm. Follow @ubcfoodhubmarket on Instagram for updates!
