UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.–Students grabbing a bite to eat in Redifer Dining Commons had the opportunity to try 20 different kinds of hydroponically-grown lettuce and vote on their favorites, as part of the Student Farm Club’s “Expand Your Salad Palate” event on March 13.
The hydroponics system allows lettuce to be grown indoors during the winter months to serve at The Urban Spoon salad bar in Redifer. The plants are grown under colorful LED lights in a water-based and nutrient rich solution.
The Student Farm club’s hydroponic system
“I had no idea there were so many different kinds of lettuce, and it was really interesting to meet the people who grew it and talk about what kinds of lettuce I liked and didn’t,” said Penn State junior Regan Bortz.
The event, in celebration of National Nutrition month, provided students with a hands-on experience to interact with their campus food system, learn about the nutritional benefits of eating fresh greens, and pick what kinds of lettuce they want to be served in Redifer.
Students sampling lettuce at the event
“It was great to have the opportunity to interact with students and hear their opinions. Getting feedback is very helpful for us, so we can grow more of what people like,” said Izaiah Bokunewicz, Student Farm Club member and co-organizer of the event.
The most popular kind of lettuce sampled was Heritage Lettuce. The second most popular was Green Butterhead, followed by Green Batavia, and then Green Oak.
Club member, Izaiah Bokunewicz at the lettuce tasting event
“An important goal of our club is to involve students with our campus food system, so this event was a great way to bring students together to try new vegetables, talk about nutrition and allow them to make decisions when it comes to their lettuce,” said Carissa Heine, club member and co-event organizer.
By: Olivia Hort