Unity College Supporting Local Lobsterman

Web Editor: Scott Sassone Date last updated: 11/12/2008 6:30:23 PM

UNITY (NEWS CENTER) -- The thought of college cafeteria food conjures images of cheeseburgers, chicken fingers and french fries. However, this week at Unity College students will be feasting on lobster.

Chef Charlie Krause purchased 400 pounds of fresh Maine lobster to serve students over the next two days.

The meals are subsidized by Unity College's "Buy Local" initiative. Each year the environmental college dedicates a minimum 15% of it's budget to buying local produce, meats and dairy products.

Rob Constantine, Unity's Vice President of College Advancement, said the school realizes just how difficult it is for local fisherman and lobsterman to get fair prices at market, so they're trying to help.

"It's a treat for the students to get lobster that is not what they get on a college campus," Constantine explained. "We want to support the industry so we've done a lot of programs to keep money in the state rather than drive it out of the state."

Constantine said, by dealing directly with lobsterman, the school is able to get a lower price and the lobstermen are able to get more for their catch.

This is the second time the school has brought in a shipment of lobster. They tried the program a few weeks ago, getting 200 pounds of lobster from a Unity College Alum.

Chef Charlie Krause said the meal was such a success they decided try it again.

NEWS CENTER