Pomona College in Southern California on Wednesday became the first liberal arts college in the United States to earn the Marine Stewardship Council chain-of-custody certification.
The news comes just over a week after the University of California-Berkeley became the first public university to earn Marine Stewardship Council chain-of-custody certification.
“This is a major benchmark in the journey that began earlier this year when the college took over dining operations after many years of contracting with outside foodservice management. Among the goals of Pomona’s Sustainability Action Plan is to offer food that has been harvested responsibly, and the MSC certification ensures that the seafood we serve meets that criteria,” said Glenn Graziano, general manager of Pomona College Dining Services.
“Out staff have been trained how to order, receive and account for MSC-certified seafood. They all understand how important this certification is to the school’s commitment to sustainability and for the students and guests we serve,” he added.
Pomona College was one of only eight colleges across the nation that received an A grade from the Sustainable Endowments Institute 2011 College Sustainability Report Card. Among the college’s sustainability initiatives are a commitment to high green building standards, reducing the campus’ impact on natural resources, a plan to make the campus more pedestrian friendly and a commitment to promoting awareness of environmental issues.
