Campus organizations fight back
Unaffordable groceries in Madison
Scattered amongst the grocery store isles, college students stand aghast at the prices they see. At a grocery store that is most accessible to their dorm or apartment, they must choose between affordability and accessibility without a car on campus. For some, this can mean making the choice of going with or without groceries for the week.
As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison when it comes to grocery shopping on campus, one only has two options, the Target on State Street or the Fresh Madison Market on University Avenue. Both choices are convenient but not affordable.
A student’s perspective
“If you don't have the time to walk somewhere, that's cheaper, you're kind of screwed for just the places that you have access to.” Callie Goodman, senior and executive director of Slow Food, an affordable meal resource on campus, said.
It is not typical for a UW-Madison student to have a car on campus, especially during their Freshmen and Sophomore years. So, although there are cheaper grocery options further away, they are still inaccessible.
“My roommate has a car, so I pretty much rely on when she can go to the grocery store,” said Callie. “I have basically not much food back in my apartment because I have to wait until she is willing to take me.”
The further from campus you go, the more affordable groceries become with most students who have cars choosing to go to Woodman’s, Aldi or the Hilldale Target. Although these options are accessible by bus, that transportation option comes with a slew of other issues.
“When you're thinking about groceries... they're really heavy. They're not easy to transport, especially if you're trying to buy cheap bulk items or you're making your way out to Woodman's to stock up on canned or cheap goods,” said Chloe Shomo, distribution director of The Open Seat, a food pantry on campus. “To carry that back, you might have to ride the bus, and the buses are often super unreliable.”
While there are options on and off campus to purchase groceries, cheap groceries are inaccessible to UW-Madison students.
According to a resource distributed by the Office of International Student Services only 2 out of the ten grocery stores they recommend are within walking distance of campus.
Campus resources for affordable groceries
The Dane County Farmer’s Market can be a resource for both finding more affordable produce and aiding in food insecurity.
Jamie Bugel, the executive director of the Dane County Farmer’s Market, shared how to shop smartly and take advantage of the different resources they offer.
“It is absolutely cheaper to buy an in-season product [from the Farmer’s Market],” Jamie said. “Because you're buying locally, farmers have more control over their prices, and they know their customers and there isn't that middleman happening.”
The Dane County Farmer’s Market not only accepts SNAP and EBT benefits, but from June 1 to Oct. 31, they participate in a Double Dollars program where customers get to spend twice the amount of money they are cashing in.
Food insecurity is a growing issue across the country as the prices of groceries grow astronomically throughout the U.S. This is an issue that also impacts college students with 31% of UW-Madison students identifying as food insecure in 2024, according to a study conducted by the Office of Basic Needs.
Chloe Shomo has seen an increase in need over time with her work for both the Open Seat and the Office of Basic Needs.
“We haven't gotten the data back on what's going on this semester yet, but just from surface level looking when I'm welcoming people into the pantry and what we're seeing at Eagle Heights. It's definitely increased since last semester,” said Chloe.
She attributed this growth to several factors including the rise in cost of tuition at the university and the rise in housing costs across the Madison area.
There are programs across campus that help aid in this disparity, with most being highlighted on the Office of Financial Aid’s website in their Basic Needs map.
Open Seat is one of these programs. Located at 333 East Campus Mall on the 3rd floor, it operates as a food pantry accessible to all students as long as they have an appointment.
“We don't do any needs testing because we know that when pantries or services implement needs testing or applications... it can really reduce access to that service,” said Chloe. “So, what we always tell students is that our main goal is to make sure that students can focus on their success. And, if acquiring free food from the pantry is going to help them do that, great! Come on by.”
Campus resources for ready-made affordable meals
Slow Food is another program that helps to give students consistent access to affordable and healthy food. On Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at noon, students and community members can stop by the Crossings Church basement at 1127 University Avenue for an affordable meal that is always between $6 and $8.
“I think what we're really trying to do from our foundation is show that meals should be affordable, sustainable and nutritious,” said Callie Goodman.
Food Recovery Network (FRN) also inhabits the Crossing Church basement twice a week. On Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Fridays at noon, the student organization serves free meals made up of leftover food from various dining halls on campus.
Emma Benewich the co-president of FRN emphasized their mission of “fighting waste and feeding people.” Their organization is not only a resource for struggling students, but an example of how helping to fight hunger can also help combat waste in a sustainable way.
Conquering food insecurity starts with acknowledging that it is not something to be ashamed of and asking for help.
“The first step, I think, is talking about that experience because you're not alone in that, and your community and your friends can provide you with so much support,” Chloe said.
In Madison, groceries are nowhere near accessible in distance or price, but there are resources that can aide in finding affordable groceries and food. When faced with food insecurity, it is important to remember you are never alone and there are always resources available if you know where to look.