7A- Food on the University of Florida Campus

There is a lack of variety regarding cheap and healthy food available on the University of Florida Campus because of the logistical challenges of getting the food there as well as the University's red tape around food service.

Testing the Who:
The main consumers of food on campus are students and faculty which was quite obvious, but I also realized older people visiting professors, alumni visiting campus, and visiting parents of students are also potential customers for a food service business on campus as I found out after interviewing five students. The food served on campus would probably not reach the broader public.

Redefining What
It seems that an untapped market is of the audience looking for more healthy and diverse food options. One gentleman I asked said that there seemed to be only greasy or non-healthy foods on campus other than subway and so he eats there most of the time. Another student said that all the food on campus was so Americanized and she would like to see more food from different cultures as they would taste in the country of origin. The students I asked said they were willing to spend $6-7 on a normal sized portion of food on campus but would prefer something priced similarly to Krishna lunch which costs $5 for a meal.One student brought to my attention the idea that there weren’t many breakfast places on campus and she would eat on campus if something was available other than the dining halls.

Redefining Why
Students are not particular about what they eat, and are willing to go to whatever food location is closest to their classes. Some go to Krishna Lunch, others go to Midtown Chipotle, or the many fast food restaurants in midtown.Most students eat on campus for lunch as they go in between classes because they need something to keep themselves going in between classes. Many students also don't want to cook after a long day of classes and just want something quick to eat before they go home. Alternatively, some students brought to my attention the idea that since there aren’t enough healthy options, they just make their own food and bring it to campus.

Reflection

I didn't realize how many students are craving healthy food options until I talked to them today. I selected the students I talked to quite randomly, yet all of them said they would like to see more healthy food when I asked the questions, "What do you think about the food available on campus? Are you satisfied or would you like to see something different?" Also, I found that the students were a lot more open about their experience were kind than I though they would have been. I expected it to be difficult to interview the five people but I feel more confident about doing it in the future now if I have more, other questions to ask. It also seemed that after I completed the interview, many students liked the idea of a food truck/cart.