Our story began in 1997 with the creation of the UBC Natural Food Co-op. In 2023, we operate as a volunteer run food co-operative with multiple programs that combat food insecurity on campus.

In 2008, Sprouts was renovated and re-opened as a volunteer-run café, store, and community space serving hot lunches, coffee, and baked goods and selling organic, locally-grown produce and minimally-packaged staple and snack items. Sprouts also ran a bulk buying club, a Sprouts box delivery program, and continues to host Community Eats, a by-donation lunch on Fridays.

In 2013 Seedlings Cafe opened in the penthouse of the Thea Koerner House, however, in 2020 Seedling was closed due to capacity and funding.

After a fundraising campaign and renovations to the LIFE building, our Sprouts Cafe location opened in January 2019, which can be found now in the basement of the LIFE Building.

We had to close all our operations during the 2020-2021 academic year due to the covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

After an affordability task force was established at UBC, a one-time funding was granted to Sprouts allowing us to introduce our By-Donation Produce Market and Free Meals Program in 2021.

Throughout 2022, Sprouts tailored our initiatives to focus on prioritizing food security work on campus. A Community Fridge was introduced along with a Saturday Distro program where we practice the principles of mutual aid through distributing meals to our neighbour’s in the Downtown Eastside and our community on campus.

In 2022, Sprouts re-opened with 6 active programs! We have redirected our initiatives to provide our community with immediate support and a space to come together. Find out more about each initiative under their website pages.

Come visit us and you will find a friendly and warm space where everyone is welcome to enjoy that time-honoured combination of good food and good company.

Read more about Sprouts’ full history here.

At Sprouts we strive to:

  • fight food insecurity on campus

  • advocate for community needs

  • create an accessible, inclusive, and safe space to build community

  • provide tangible food items as immediate response to the ongoing affordability crisis

  • acknowledge the root causes that lead to food insecure communities

  • de-stigmatize free food

  • make local, organic, and fair-trade foods accessible to the UBC community

  • promote and increase awareness of local food producers practicing sustainable farming techniques

  • promote and support fair economic development abroad by fostering discussion around the complexities of global trade

  • provide a diversity of people with high quality leadership and job skills

  • operate a business where ethics, the environment, and social responsibility take precedence over profits

  • create educational opportunities around health and nutrition, and sustainable food systems; fostering critical thought and ethical global citizenship

  • create an aware community at UBC bound together by a common love of good food, positive social change, and a sense of collective responsibility

Our Food

We believe that the best food comes with an active understanding and involvement in the processes bringing it to our plates. Everyone needs food, so the questions surrounding responsible consumption are of vital importance. But how do we strike a balance between the sometimes competing demands of organic, local, fair-trade, minimal packaging, special dietary needs, and affordability? The volunteers at Sprouts are excited about engaging in this discussion and its possibilities.

Local and seasonal produce, bulk dried goods, and a selection of minimally packaged snack foods and juices. Much of our volunteer energy goes into making our soups, salads and baked goods in our kitchen. The volunteers develop their food preparation skills and share cooking knowledge, and Sprouts customers get to enjoy delicious and affordable lunches and snacks.

At Sprouts we offer take-away containers for our soups or baked goods, but we do charge a small fee and recommend to our community to bring your own containers. Our fair trade coffee is only $1 cents, but we ask that you bring your own mug or stay and drink it with us.

As an organization run entirely by student volunteers, Sprouts is an exciting and engaging business. We are not for profit and the entire project is fuelled by a dedicated group of student volunteers, with all profits going back into our projects and the organization’s development. Certain initiatives are made possible through grant fundings applied for by board members. Slow down to enjoy the food and people, ask questions, and please introduce yourself. If you are interested in getting involved check out our volunteer opportunities.