It’s been a long time coming, but “stumpies” are rejoicing over a new way to kill time and fill their bellies – the Trailhead Café. With a menu covering all different tastes, the eatery supports local, organic food, which is bringing us healthier meals.

Opening last week in the Gateway Center, the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s premiere building, the café has eco-friendly inspired food choices for hungry ESF and Syracuse University students, faculty and staff.

For the first time on our campuses, organic, free-range and local options are available, all in one place. In accordance with ESF’s slogan, “Improve Your World,” the café is making great strides.

The Trailhead is staring to challenge America’s industrial food complex. Organic foods remove the inorganic pesticides and fertilizers from the growing process, which diminishes a great slew of environmental issues.

Free-range products improve the lives of livestock and the quality of meat while local food cuts down on transportation costs. This lessens greenhouse gas emissions and supports local businesses.

“Even the bagels are from New York,” said Kristen Howard, a junior at ESF and employee at the Trailhead Café. “They made sure that everything we use is sourced responsibly.”

Whether you’re a meat lover or vegetarian, there is something for you at the Trailhead. Different varieties of burgers range from beef, turkey and black bean – the last of which is made right at the café. No frozen veggie patties at the Trailhead.

If you’re not looking for a full meal or quick snack, the coffee at the Trailhead is a real treat. All coffee is from Paul de Lima, a local coffee company that roasts its fair-trade beans in Syracuse. No detail in planning which food and drinks to serve has gone unnoticed.

When developing the new café, ESF officials decided to contract SUNY Morrisville to run the Trailhead. With its expertise in managing sustainable eateries on its own campus, it really seemed like the best way to go.

Even though the Trailhead is contracted out and run by another SUNY campus, ESF administration persevered in creating a cool new spot for “stumpies.” Last semester, ESF students even got to vote on the name of their own café, with options such as the Treehouse and Eustace B. as some of the contenders.

Continuing this cooperative planning, the administration created a Food Advisory Committee, combining students, faculty and staff to help guide the sustainability goals of the campus. Further still, the Trailhead is taking public suggestions for all aspects of the café, including the food, service and hours.

The hours for the Trailhead are 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m., but hours are expected to extend next semester. With this extension, the Food Advisory Committee is actively working to create even more sustainable menu options, meaning more environmentally conscious foods may be in the near future.

In a spot directly across from the Carrier Dome, the location can draw in ESF and SU kids alike. If you want a sustainable, environmentally conscious meal that doesn’t break the bank, the Trailhead is for you.

Take a moment to stop by. No matter what you’re looking for, the Trailhead Café is worth a try.

Meg Callaghan is a junior environmental studies major at SUNY-ESF. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at mlcallag@syr.edu.

Published on March 27, 2013 at 1:01 am