Berkeley Student Food Collective

organic, healthy and cheap food! I can always find what I need here and they often have home designed food which is amazing! Oh. Love their tofu Yu

I wandered into the student food collective when I was on campus last week and bought lunch. It’s such a nice store! I would spend loads of money and time there if I was a student at Cal. There are tons of yummy and healthy items to purchase. They have fresh fruits and veggies, prepared foods, bulk items, and pantry stables. I bought a quinoa salad and kombucha, both of which were very tasty.
The student working was so friendly. She invited me to a kombucha tasting that evening which sounded like so much fun! I definitely would have gone if I didn’t have plans. It seems like they have a lot of fun events for the Berkeley community. I will definitely come back for a bite to eat next time I’m at Cal!

I work at a café near by and sometimes we purchase good wholesome vegetables from there for specials. I have also recently bought some bok choy and broccoli and made a simple stir fry. It was the best bok choy I’ve ever had. Also, the vegetables I have had the opportunity to try seem to hold longer than other supermarkets.
Within the last week I bought — asparagus, carrots and broccoli for $ 7. I had it as sides and they were perfect. I wish it was a little bigger inside so there might be a larger selection because what they’re hocking is good.

For a small co-​op they have a large selection of vegan, vegetarian, and organic produce, snacks, pre-​made foods, drinks and more. I love coming here at least once a week to grab a salad or sandwich. It’s never too expensive for a healthy lunch ($ 5-​$ 9) and it helps support younger generations who actually give a damn about their impact on the environment!

I LOVE THIS STORE SO MUCH!!! it’s the best place ever. I try to buy all my groceries there because it such a good place to support and they have so many goodies as well as staples. They make awesome sandwiches and stuff in the store and they’re super open to new product suggestions! Everyone is SO NICE there too!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PLACE!
HEARTS SHOOTING OUT FROM UNICORNS!!!
The store is conveniently located right across campus. They have a decent variety of organic products, although most of them are slight pricier than other general merchandises.
The pre-​made salads and refrigerated packaged goods are delicious, and fairly priced in my opinion.
The prices of fresh produce fluctuate from time to time, but still on the expensive side comparing to Berkeley Bowl.
Most staffs are enthusiastic and friendly. They are always available to answer your questions. And best of all, it is a student-​run business! So you’re actually benefitting the campus society through your purchases.
In conclusion, this is a great place to grab a quick lunch or snack. Or you can act as a well-​educated, eco-​friendly health-​conscious dude and hook up some hot chicks.

Working with a Vegan boss, I frequently find myself here picking up vegan wraps, hummus, and other produce for various events. Over time, I’ve gotten to know the staff and the manager, Gwenn who is one of the most accommodating and nice person i’ve ever met.
There was one time where I forgot to place an order and she quickly filled my order when I showed up with a shocked face in a matter of minutes. While waiting, she had her staff let me and my associate try their seasonal fruits like their figs. They are so nice here and really pride themselves with service. They are always generous with what they give you and if you cater fruit from this place, expect quality produce.
They also have hummus wraps here. I have anything Vegan and find it all gross but according to my vegan boss and other vegan associates, its awesome here.
They also have a variety of fresh produce and selection changes everyday depending on what they get. They have really good organic salsa and pita chips/​tortilla chips with brands that you won’t find anywhere else. Definitely stop by this place for chips because they are delicious!
Overall, if you’re looking for fruit, come here. Meat eaters, oh gosh, this place is not for you ;]

The Berkeley Student Food Collective opened about a year ago. I glanced in when they first opened and they didn’t seem to have much selection. However, recently I looked in again and was quite impressed with the many varied offerings now available.
They have a great bulk item selection with Sunridge Farm products. I love their trail mix! The chocolate bulk stuff is $$$ ($ 11−13/lb.)…helps keep me on my diet though– lol. I am a fan of their Tuscan Kale and Quinoa Salad (prepackaged $ 4). Fairly limited amount of produce, wanted to buy some avocados but they were nowhere close to being ripe. They have all sorts of neat (and $$$) items I want to try that you don’t tend to see elsewhere.
What keeps me giving out 5 stars is the check out procedure. Every time it’s been a pretty tedious process to check out. There is no clearly identified way to line up (people approach from all sides) so I’ve found the best way is to just put your items on the counter when you get close and track who you’re behind. Many times, the staff seem confused about how to operate the register/​credit card machine. Also, I always ask for my receipt now as I recently discovered (after I had left) that I was charged 10 cents for bringing my own reusable bag! :-/​
Berkeley is the birthplace of co-​ops and BSFC is a welcome addition to Bancroft Way. I’m glad it’s here on campus!!! I’m a regular now (#2 in check-​ins) :)

I love coming here during my lunch hours to grab a quick bite or pick up something on the way home. The produces are all organic and the prices can be a bit on the higher end, but I do love it when they sell really cheap peaches and plums.
I also love buying their packaged salads, most of them for $ 3 – 4 and they are pretty filling! They also have a lot of the TofuYu products.
I wish they had more homemade items everyday and you have to drop in and out once in a while to check out what they have because everyday they have different and new items! Some days they will have homemade beet salads or power smoothies, which are really good!
They also have a lot of the organic granola, energy bars, dark chocolate bars, and other gluten-​free snacks!
But unfortunately, they do seem to resell some of their items in the fridge such as their pre-​made sandwiches or burritos.

Love love love the Student Co-​op. Wish I would have realized it was here sooner! (It is sort of tucked away on Bancroft with a not-​so-​flashy sign).
Tips:
*If there’s something specific you want, come earlier in the day– the fresh produce and pre-​made meals in the refrigerated section tend to sell out quickly.
*Bring your own bags if you are getting bulk items or produce (they will charge to use the bags there)
*Take the time to look around thoroughly– they have some amazing things tucked away in this small space!
*Sometimes when the fruit first comes in they price it high– wait a day or so and come back: it’s usually much less expensive! (i.e. last week cherries were $ 10/​lb and when I came back later they were cheaper)
My favorites:
The GF AB&J — note *sometimes* they are a bit stingy with the AB&J filling, so I supplement with a packet of Acai Berry Nut Butter (little purple packet at the front of the store)– yum!
The Odwalla-​like juice smoothies in the refrigerated section (they buy from a small, more local brand)
Pretty much all of the pre-​made lunches in the refrigerator: Epicurean bean salad, mixed chopped salads, quinoa salads, hummus plates— everything is really fresh and delicious. You can’t beat quality ingredients like adzuki beans, fresh lettuce, chia seeds, red walnuts, etc.
Chocolate craving? They have so many good raw/​fair-​trade dark chocolate treats.
I came in the other day to get enough food to get me through the next few days. For $ 20 I scored:
1 box of strawberries
1 box red cherries
1 box apricots
1 bunch beets
1 bunch carrots
1 bunch collard greens
Two yams
1 orange
3 medjool dates
Bulk black beans
bulk split-​pea yellow peas
1 pre-​made salad/​grains plate
Anywhere else, this much local/​organic fare would have been much more expensive!

Love love love BSFC! The student volunteers are some of the friendliest people around, and you have to love that you’re supporting a student collective! Everything is fresh and organic, and if you’re sticking to produce, it’s really reasonably priced too! Some of the packaged stuff can get a little pricey, but only in the same way that organic and gluten-​free snack are expensive at a supermarket too.
Their grab-​and-​go fridge is a great place to go if you need a snack between classes, and they’ve got some really yummy drinks to go with it. I still always pop in here for a few pieces of fruit or most recently, a bunch of rainbow carrots (only $ 2.07 per bunch!). They even let me wash my carrots in the back so that I could snack on them while I walked home. Just make sure you know that everything is seasonal and with such a small store, produce changes around pretty quickly, so don’t be too disappointed if you can’t find exactly the veggie you were looking for — there are bound to be five others that look delicious as well.

Posed with a dilemma: $ 6 to spend in the Asian Ghetto, at a Shattuck eatery… not quite enough for a sit-​down meal at Naan n Curry, not worth the sugar crash of double fisted pastries at a bakery…
But so, so, so worth the piece of fruit and box of cereal at the Food Collective, sprinkled with a little conversation with the super nice student staffers working here. It’s tiny, so be aware that your giant backpack might knock a box of organic whatevers off the shelves here and there. The store seems to do well with their by the pound offerings (the granola is fairly priced with precise ingredient lists for the allergy-​prone), produce (slim pickings by the time I passed through in the late afternoon), and organic snacks (Annie’s, Nature’s Path, higher-​end cookies and chips). If I were a student not on the meal plan, I’d come here and spot them the extra dollar here or there to keep this very admirable project alive.

BSFC has a limited selection of food, but that is exactly what makes them sustainable. Or so I think!
I purchased the $ 3.99 vegan bagel sandwich, which came with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and baba ghanoush. It was very good!

I love the BSFC! I come here for my bulk items (cheaper or same price as berkeley bowl), my organic fresh produce which comes from within 250 miles of berkeley! And it’s cheaper than the organic section at BB too! Delicious fresh bread from metropolis. Nabalom baked goods! Day old baked goodies for $ 1. Kleen Kanteens for $ 10. How can I not love this place?! OH and they Make their own sandwiches FRESH everyday only using ingredients from the store.
And the volunteers (BSFC is volunteer run) are always friendly and making conversation. Thank you BSFC for being so tasty friendly well-​priced and convenient!

The BSFC is so amazing! You HAVE to check it out if you’re a college student… Or anyone!
I’ve been really busy this semester and it’s been hard for me find time to go all the way to the grocery store. Instead I just stop by the conveniently located Food Collective and pick up whatever ingredients I need for dinner a couple times a week or grab a delicious sandwich for lunch.
The food collective has tons of great produce, awesome bulk items that are a really good deal, and so much more! And it’s all great quality!
I especially love the chocolate covered cocoa nibs and pesto tofu! Way too good. Definitely stop by!

Very awesome place! I like the whole concept of this place. I came here the other day and bought a pretty tasty tofu curry sandwich with spinach and mushroom. This place has a little of everything. It has produce, nuts, prepared food, boxed food, and coffee. The prices are a little pricey though. Also the staff like to talk to themselves a lot. They don’t really approach the customers…

Props for convenience, selling healthier snacks, selected bulk foods delicious pastries from local bakeries, organic/​fair trade produce from farmer’s market.
I like coming to Student Food Collective to fill up on trail mix, legumes and rice when I don’t have time to run to Berkeley Bowl and Whole Foods on week day. Produce looks a little old, could definitely be more fresh. Occasionally, I see wilting vegetables in the fridge. Despite being small, they have a HUGE variety of snacks and drinks. They also sell yogurt, milk, almond milk, premade lunches and sandwiches. Although I’ve never purchased their food yet…
Day off pastries are cheaper (~$ 0.50 to $ 0.75) and are pretty good! I really like the mini baked donuts, apple walnut cake and NABALOM PASTIRES! mm!
Items are expensive, but generally priced similarly to larger grocery markers. There’s a $ 5 minimum for purchases made by credit card. Check it out!

My search for cheap delicious, dense muffins has finally stopped. Thank you Berkeley Student Food Collective!
Two day old muffins can be had at a price of $ 1.50, or $ 0.75 each. Though I bought two, I enjoyed one exponentially better than the other one (chocolate chip walnut over a oatmeal like muffin). Unlike muffins you find at most places which are airy, these muffins are super dense and will definitely make you feel full afterwards. Also, though I don’t know the calorie count, I’m 100% sure they’re infinitely healthier than the muffin’s you’ll find at Costco which have more than 600 calories, of which a large amount is from sugar and fats. Bleh!
Considering the other stuff being sold in the store… it’s not the cheapest, but I approve of the business. If you’ve never gone here before, the place might be easy to pass by but make sure you check it out. It’s *right* across from Echelman Hall and you’re sure to find a delicious snack inside.

Fight the power! No, really, they did. And won. They helped keep a chain with questionable practices off UC Berkeley’s campus. (Too bad about Peet’s, though. I could go off on some of their sourcing and marketing based on that sourcing, but.)
So I made sure to swing by on their last open day of the year. I grabbed a locally made burrito with organic ingredients out of the cooler and an apple for a snack. They let people use their microwave, although… It’s a commercial microwave. Generally, people don’t realize the strength. The woman at the counter warned me multiple times. They have to clean up food explosions often. Take care, and start with a *short* time. While they say 90s for one of their burritos, 1m left mine quite toasty.
They had a good collection of groceries for what looked like good (for Berkeley) prices. The produce was limited, but it’s *winter*. Even the bay area slows down in winter. Prices and produce will never match a large farmers’ market like Concord’s, but this store is open almost every day.
The trash from my to-​go lunch? Compostable, so I found an appropriate can for disposal. I really wish this extension of the local food coop table had been here way, way, way back when I still lived near campus. Way back. Um, some of the kids running the place likely were entering middle school. erm. yeah. eep.

Good going! The student food collective is finally here after all these years with reasonably priced offerings.
Arizmendi and Nabolom pastries often $ 1 or even $ 0.75
Thanksgiving Coffee Company coffee cup $ 1.50