By: Cynthia Brazzel, Senior Director, Member Relations and Advocacy (Western Region), FMI,

I recently joined Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO) professor and agriculture economist Dr. Ricky Volpe's class on “Food Retail Management.” Along with 45 students, we met with Jonathan Tan from The Ratio Institute, a nonprofit organization that works with grocery stores to address sustainability (energy and waste) challenges in their operations. Tan trained the students on how to audit a local grocery store for sustainability and energy awareness. Students learned how to inspect the store for energy waste as well as achievements already implemented by the grocer. This learning will be applied to a pilot program in San Luis Obispo involving visits to other grocers and conducting sustainability audits. Cal Poly SLO is an FMI university member

Jonathan Tan from The Ratio Institute trains the students on how to audit a local grocery store for sustainability and energy awareness

Jonathan Tan from The Ratio Institute trains students on how to audit a local grocery store for sustainability and energy awareness.

Dr. Ricky Volpe talks to students from the “Food Retail Management class on sustainaiblity auditing.

Dr. Ricky Volpe talks to students from the “Food Retail Management class about sustainaiblity auditing.