Recent trends show that consumers are starting to prioritize sustainability when they go out to eat now more than ever. Tarbell's, a family-owned restaurant based in Phoenix, Arizona, aims to become a leader in sustainable food service but requires additional expertise in prioritizing and showcasing their sustainability efforts. Founded by…
Recent trends show that consumers are starting to prioritize sustainability when they go out to eat now more than ever. Tarbell's, a family-owned restaurant based in Phoenix, Arizona, aims to become a leader in sustainable food service but requires additional expertise in prioritizing and showcasing their sustainability efforts. Founded by Mark Tarbell in 1994, Tarbell’s portfolio includes the main restaurant- Tarbell’s, The Wine Store and Tavern, their catering business, and The Tavern at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport., Tarbell’s has partnered with the Tarbellas, a group of Master of Sustainability Solutions (MSUS) students at Arizona State University (ASU), to pursue larger impact goals, including conducting a materiality assessment and drafting a sustainability plan of action.
To begin the project process, the Tarbellas completed a landscape analysis. We researched the following categories: restaurant vendor practices; small, international restaurants; small, national restaurants; corporate food retailers; and restaurant-related sustainability certifications. This analysis informed our other research methods, including a best practices assessment and TOWS analysis, ultimately leading us to develop four initial priorities that informed our next steps: 1) hire a staff member to manage all sustainability initiatives and reporting, 2) focus on sustainable procurement across the restaurant, 3) complete the Food Made Good online audit, and 4) work towards and obtain Green Restaurant Association Certification.
With support from Tarbell’s, we developed a job description for a Sustainability Program Manager and a Sustainable Purchasing Policy. We created both by researching existing job postings and purchasing policies, and then adapted them to fit Tarbell’s needs and goals. Tarbell’s also completed the Food Made Good online audit.
Finally, the Tarbellas completed a materiality assessment. In order to do this, we developed an internal stakeholder survey and collected data on Tarbell’s annual spend from 2022. We plotted the results on a materiality matrix and used the results to inform how to prioritize the next steps. This prioritization will help Tarbell’s inform their sustainability strategy in the future.
Going forward, we recommend the following to Tarbell’s: 1) Hire a Sustainability Program Manager, 2) Utilize the Sustainable Purchasing Policy (SPP) we developed, 3) Obtain Green Restaurant Association Certification, and 4) routinely revisit their material impacts. Our report takes the format of a sustainability plan of action, enabling Tarbell’s to continue pursuing sustainability while being a leading example and guide for other small, independent restaurants on their paths to pursuing sustainability.
More than 10 million visitors traveled to Hawaiʻi in 2019, placing an enormous strain on a food system already burdened by a disproportionate reliance on imported food. Agritourism may be one solution for farmers to diversify their income, increase consumption of locally produced food, and connect farmers to local consumers.…
More than 10 million visitors traveled to Hawaiʻi in 2019, placing an enormous strain on a food system already burdened by a disproportionate reliance on imported food. Agritourism may be one solution for farmers to diversify their income, increase consumption of locally produced food, and connect farmers to local consumers. But in a place with such a robust tourism infrastructure, how can it be responsibly implemented and utilized in a way that benefits local farmers, residents, the environment, and rural and Native Hawaiian culture? This report endeavors to answer this question through a comprehensive examination of agritourism in the islands as it exists today, and by providing recommendations for agritourism in Hawaiʻi going forward.
The ASU School of Dance presents Emerging Artists II, February 14-17, with works by dance BA and MFA students Cassie Roberts, Katie McCaskill, Lydia Sakolsky-Basquill, Kelly Doherty, and Kristin Tovson, performed at the Dance Studio Theatre.
The ASU School of Dance presents Emerging Artists I, October 8-10, with works by dance MFA candidates Randi L. Frost, Emily Spranger, and Omilade Davis, performed at the Dance Lab, FAC 122.
The ASU School of Dance presents Emerging Artists II, November 5-7, with works by dance MFA candidates Rebecca A. Ferrell, Rebecca Blair Hillerby, and Crystal Bedford, performed at the Margaret Gisolo Dance Studio.