OREM, Utah — Utah Valley University (UVU) is offering cooking classes to help students learn how to prepare meals with fresh produce from the campus food pantry and garden, part of the university’s ongoing effort to address student food insecurity.
A recent Utah State University survey found that almost half of Utah college students report some level of food insecurity. At UVU, the state’s largest higher education institution, the campus food pantry served more than 12,000 people last year and distributed more than 67,000 pounds of food.
The pantry, part of UVU’s CARE Hub program, was originally stocked with boxed and canned goods. It began supplementing its shelves with fresh produce grown at the university’s on-campus GRIT Garden, a quarter-acre plot maintained by students. Last year, the garden provided almost 16,000 pounds of fresh produce to UVU students.
To help students make use of that produce, the pantry hosts Fresh Food Friday during the harvest season and offers Pantry to Plate cooking classes throughout the year. The classes teach students how to prepare meals using items collected from the pantry and the garden. During the growing season, classes focus on seasonal fruits and vegetables. In winter months, they center on pantry staples such as dried beans and rice.
Students access the pantry for a range of reasons, from an unexpected expense that affects a grocery budget to more ongoing circumstances, including unstable housing situations or dietary restrictions that increase the cost of groceries.
The UVU Food Pantry is open to students Monday through Friday.
About Utah Valley University
Utah Valley University believes in the power and potential of every student. Our work is guided by a commitment to exceptional care, exceptional accountability, and exceptional results. We provide a high-quality education that is both affordable and accessible. From certificates to master’s degrees, UVU offers flexible, relevant programs grounded in hands-on learning and real-world experiences, ensuring that students graduate with career-ready skills and are ready to receive a strong return on investment. As an open-enrollment university, we invite students to come as they are, and they leave prepared to make an immediate impact in their careers and communities.
