Long Beach City College will be installing new vending machines that offer healthy meals at an $8 to $9 price point in the upcoming weeks.
The meals, provided by the Farmer’s Fridge company, will come in recyclable jars and contain foods such as salads, yogurts and wraps that offer a full serving of fruits or vegetables.
The idea for bringing these vending machines to campus was brought about by Barnes and Noble. The school has already partnered with this company to provide textbooks and other items at the student store.
Barnes and Noble created an agreement with Farmer’s Fridge that allows the school to expand their food options to more than just the treats the other vending machines around the college offer.
These vending machines are arriving in response to the recent feedback students have given about the school’s other food options that they claim are either too expensive or not nutritious enough.
“We’d like [students] to get something healthy and affordable—not just a bagged or microwaveable item, but a good, filling meal,” stated Raymond West, who is vice president of business and administrative services.
“We were really excited about these vending machines when we found them,” West continued, “but now it’s just a matter of getting them here.”
The new vending machines were scheduled to arrive back in September but there have been logistical issues that have delayed their arrival. West and his team have been calling the Farmer’s Fridge daily to get these machines in the school as soon as possible.
When they arrive, these vending machines will be located inside the E building at the Liberal Arts Campus and the GG building at Pacific Coast Campus.
Students can continue to expect more of these quick food options while the school prepares for a complete renovation of the cafeteria happening next year.
Following the closure of the cafeteria caused by the unexpected contract termination with S&B foods, the college scrambled to find temporary food solutions for students. However, LBCC has decided not to sign a new food vendor contract until after the new cafeteria is complete.
“We are currently working with a food service consultant expert for strategies on providing better and more food solutions while the cafeteria is built,” said Robert Rapoza who is the director of business support services.
But the cafeteria project is expected to take approximately 18 months, which means these temporary food solutions will likely stick around in the long term.
There has been no mention of rebuilding the cafeteria at the Pacific Coast Campus and it seems that they will also have to wait for the completion of LAC’s cafeteria to sign back on to a food contract.
In the meantime, the school will continue to look for healthier food options such as these vending machines to hold students over in the long months to come.