University branded premium food

**besserheimerphat** · 03-03-2013, 01:18 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/us....html?hpw&_r=0

Washington State, and a few other schools, are selling their beef, cheese and other food products to help ease the pain of state/federal funding cuts. I know ISU sells some stuff on campus from the meat department, but it's not available to people very far from the Ames area. Would you consider buying this stuff from ISU if it were available?

**00clone** · 03-03-2013, 01:20 PM

This is a good idea....each state school can focus on their specialty.

ISU: Pork and Beef

Iowa: mainly just Fruits and Nuts.

UNI will just glom onto Iowa and claim that they can't afford their own product line.

**Rabbuk** · 03-03-2013, 01:21 PM

The meat sale is pretty decent meat, but it's kind of expensive for what it is in my opinion.

**jdoggivjc** · 03-03-2013, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by Rabbuk

The meat sale is pretty decent meat, but it's kind of expensive for what it is in my opinion.

So are ISU Football tickets, but fans shell that out anyway...

**00clone** · 03-03-2013, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

So are ISU Football tickets, but fans shell that out anyway...

Yeah, but "I've bought meat from the university longer than you've been alive" doesn't have the same ring to it when you want to start a 'who's a better fan' weiner measuring contest.

**Rabbuk** · 03-03-2013, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

So are ISU Football tickets, but fans shell that out anyway...

and there's competitors for meat, where there's not for isu football tickets.

**WhatchaGonnaDo** · 03-03-2013, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Rabbuk

and there's competitors for meat, where there's not for isu football tickets.

Lawyer'd

**besserheimerphat** · 03-03-2013, 01:41 PM

In the article, they talk about the university raising and selling Wagyu (super premium beef) at high prices. I don't think it's a way to replace what you'd normally buy at the store, but when you want something special. Instead of going to Fareway, you go to ISU. Particularly for those of us who live far from ISU, it's another way we can connect with the university. I could eat a Cyclone Steak during the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments, or grill some Jack Trice Brats during football games even though I live near Seattle.

**JP4CY** · 03-03-2013, 01:45 PM

I've been to Iowa State's Wurstfest before, that's the stuff they need to sell.
Incredible amount of beef sticks, salamis, sausages.

**00clone** · 03-03-2013, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by JP4CY

I've been to Iowa State's Wurstfest before, that's the stuff they need to sell.
Incredible amount of beef sticks, salamis, sausages.

Is this where Cycl1 developed his unhealthy fascination with weiners?

**jaretac** · 03-03-2013, 03:48 PM

Mixed feelings. On one hand it would be one way for a University to think outside the box in keeping fees down. On the other hand I don't like the idea of universities becoming major contributors in commerce and this is a slippery slope.

If it is small scale, how much is it really going to help. If large scale, at what point does a university become a member of industry instead of a place of higher learning.

If they keep price on the high side so they are not competitive, then people will probably buy it more for the connection than for meat. In which case it wouldn't be much different than someone donating money to the university, much like letting HS students wash your car (in which case you are not paying for the quality).

I think I would have major cause of concern if the university started selling it cheep or competitive based on grade. I just have a thing about a state competing against private companies, no matter how noble the cause.

**Mr Janny** · 03-03-2013, 04:52 PM

If ISU offered Wagyu beef, I would definitely buy it. Maybe not every week, but for special occasions for sure

**Sparkplug** · 03-03-2013, 04:56 PM

I have bought 1/2 pork and beef 1/4 from DMACC. They send their animals to a locker in Menlo and I chose how I was it cut and packaged

**Cyclonic1** · 03-03-2013, 04:57 PM

Yes, if it were packaged like Omaha steaks.

**besserheimerphat** · 03-03-2013, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by jaretac

Mixed feelings. On one hand it would be one way for a University to think outside the box in keeping fees down. On the other hand I don't like the idea of universities becoming major contributors in commerce and this is a slippery slope.

If it is small scale, how much is it really going to help. If large scale, at what point does a university become a member of industry instead of a place of higher learning.

If they keep price on the high side so they are not competitive, then people will probably buy it more for the connection than for meat. In which case it wouldn't be much different than someone donating money to the university, much like letting HS students wash your car (in which case you are not paying for the quality).

I think I would have major cause of concern if the university started selling it cheep or competitive based on grade. I just have a thing about a state competing against private companies, no matter how noble the cause.

I hadn't considered this, but I agree that you don't want Hy-Vee et al competing with ISU. Again, if you read the article, the universities doing it currently are selling premium product at high price (article says normal beef price plus $5/lb). The Wagyu package Wazzu sells goes for $9.50/lb - clearly not competitive with the local grocers. However, the local grocers don't carry Wagyu beef either. Apparently they've sold the Cougar Gold cheese for years.

It could also be an awesome experience for students in the business/marketing departments in addition to those in animal and food sciences.