Great values, nice people, very expensive, limited selection, potentially old/not-as-fresh produce. I've been coming here on and off for the past few years (lockdown excluded) on my way home after RSF visits. Convenient place to grab something like a spice, frozen meal, or miscellaneous kitchen item. But you'll pay for that convenience. I find items are marked up ~20% compared to TJ's or Safeway. That said, I recognize this place isn't a massive chain and goes out of its way to maintain certain standards/values that regular grocers don't. I recently bought some cookies (pictured below) and a pound of pinto beans which came out to $8 after a 10% discount (tip at time of writing: get discount by filling out survey). Cookies actually tasted fantastic. The dried pinto beans seem to be a bit old based on how long it took to prepare them, still okay though. I decided not to go for the fresh fruit because they looked battered. Overall, nice place that's conveniently located, but on the pricier side and doesn't have enough to cover all your grocery needs. read more

Berkeley Student Food Collective - Cookies - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

they scam you at check out they dont show you the price of anything, add a huge tip and then charge you 2x the price of a normal store. the students who work there are scamming. the food is stale, you can see from the other reviews, the food is not super safe. not a good safe place. read more

Such a convenient shop to pick up a drink and snack on your break or pickup last minute ingredients. Love that they stock organic and local goods. Staff is always helpful. Good vibes. read more

Berkeley Student Food Collective is an interesting store just slightly down the street from Sather gate. it can be categorized as a convenience store, a mini Whole Food's of sometime in between. store is packed with mini categories ala easter hunt. offerings range from snacks, salads, coffees, teas, pasta, food meals. prepped salads. tofu eats. to cookie, healthful eats. buys: cookies -one ok, one too sweet. leftovers: -labeling on shelf not too accurate, a little sloppy. -definitely need to browse awhile to get something worthwhile. think items over. -quick, courteous checkout... read more

I believe this shop is a great idea to provide ethically produced food to local communities & accepting ebt. I came here in search of a snack between my classes and only had ebt money to spend. However, in my both experiences shopping here the salads and falafel I bought were not fresh / did not meet the standards I would expect at a grocery store. Perhaps, they have been shelved for too long or the quality of food served here is not fresh. I hope this changes and that good food can be provided here as well. read more

I really liked going here because their grab and go food was pretty good, they sold great granola and they always had a decent selection of kombucha. However when I was looking at their bulk aisle food, I noticed cockroaches crawling all along the toos of the containers - just as I was about to grab some pretzels (gross!!!) I brought this to the attention of the cashier and she grabbed some "non-toxic" spray and said "I hope that takes care of them." - as we all know - if you see a handful of roaches, there are WAY more where those come from. And seriously - non-toxic spray? You know that roaches survived atomic bombs and you're spraying that? Also, what would have been more appropriate was to cordon off that section so NO ONE can even go near it until they clear up the infestation. So I promptly put down my food and left. Really concerning about the cleanliness at this store and won't be coming back unless the health department does an inspection and clears this place out. read more

A great place to stop by to grab some breakfast, coffee, pre-made meals, organic produce, bars, and healthy snacks!! The prices can be a bit high for majority of the things, but some pre-made meals or baked goods are very fairly priced! And it's a great place for people looking for vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free goods. They also have a small bulk section for some nuts, trail mix, dried fruits, and grains. For the pre-made food in the fridge, I've gotten a taro leaf roll (sounds weird but actually very yummy and filling), Thai kimchi (has basil taste), tofu-ya stuff (yum!!). You really couldn't go wrong with anything there. I also happened to come when Dandelion chocolate had a small pop up table in front of the store and it was a wonderful experience! They offered samples for four different chocolates (delicious!!) and even made chocolate there for you to try. What's awesome to know about Dandelion is that all the chocolate is made purely of cacao and sugar, so if u taste any underlying notes like citrus or caramel, it's because of where the cocoa beans are from!! So if you see Dandelion at the store, HIGHLY recommend!! read more

See all

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) :) read more

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. read more

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. read more

BSFC is a great place to pick up fresh veggies and fruits. They also have some packaged goods and TOFU! Their selection is quite good and mostly vegan, which is so so so so nice; however, their prices are a little high. Recommendations: Tofu Yu tofu in PESTO FLAVOR!!!! zomg so good. and they take Cal 1 Debit read more

Amazing!!! The cutest grocery store with the best vegan/veggie/ gf options. Very accessible and super close to campus. Even hot meals take EBT which is amazing. Friendly staff. A little on the expensive side but they double your bucks so it's worth it. read more

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... read more

Berkeley Student Food Collective - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

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. read more

Berkeley Student Food Collective - Grocery Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

I work at a cafe 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. read more

I highly recommend the Kombucha on tap here. I tried the brand in Chicago and was able to trace it to this store in Berkeley. Too bad I don't go to school here or I'd drink it all the time. It's the Marin Kombucha in Pinot Sage! Also, give the Way to Life granola a try. I've never had such lightly crisp or fragrant granola before. I first had it at a Farmer's Market in SF so I was so grateful they had it here! I think Vanilla Almond is the best flavor. It definitely is a small store with select items. But the items they have are the ones the larger chains don't carry! I like the dedication to natural and wholistic foods. read more

This is a great little place to snag some organic produce, maybe on your way home from class. I think this place would do really well to invest more in meal prep stuff - but I think that they do to that it's just a members-only thing? Idk how that works, I don't go to Cal. There's basically nothing for me other than fruit and vegetable I because a lot of their other stuff is full of sugar or non-organic/ non-vegan. I think of it like a magical little organic fruit and veg stand. read more

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! read more

Came here with a friend who got some kombucha ($3.75) & thought the collective did a good job in keeping stocked foods that college students are always in need of! From kombucha on tap to various milks, from veggies and fruits to chocolates and protein bars, products are organized and are abundant. Staff is friendly and helpful read more

I get all of my produce here, and most of my groceries. I'm a UC Berkeley student who was a member (volunteer at the store for 2 hours a week) for about half of my time at Berkeley. The BSFC is an amazing community of people who care about making food equitable, sustainable, and accessible to everyone. These definitions are nuanced and difficult to pin down, so there are entire committees dedicated to picking the best products and how to make the store a space for everyone. The store is a living classroom - workshops and events are held there, food is sold at market rate to good causes, and ideas and feedback from students and community members are constantly being implemented. All the food is local, organic, humane, or fair trade, and the equity and selection are constantly improving! I love that shopping here makes me eat seasonally. I can't come in January and buy blueberries, but I can find amazing broccoli, potatoes, parsnips, turnips, cauliflower, carrots... yum. The BSFC is space by students and community for students and community. I come here whenever I have an awkward gap in between classes or frustrated after a bad day, because of the friends I'll find in the store (and if you don't know anyone, you'll make friends with whoever is working)! read more

Great little "hole in the wall" collective grocery store. Anyone can shop; those who work receive a discount. When I went in on their fourth day open, the store was well stocked with produce, bulk items, packaged goods and refrigerated items. They are not huge, so you don't see eight types of rice, but they stock a broad selection of "essentials." Everything they carry is organic, and they try to purchase locally sourced products when possible. Their produce comes from Veritable Vegatable's "150" list, which means all the produce they carry comes from within 150 miles. They are off to a good start. If you value collectives, shop there to help them succeed. Parking can be terrible, since they are in the south campus area, but if you park in the garage between Durant and Channing (just west of Telegraph), you can take the walkway next to Yogurt Park to get to Bancroft, so you're really only one block away from the store. read more

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. read more

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! read more

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! read more

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! read more

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! read more

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! read more

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. read more

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. read more

I love this place so much!! Ready-made foods are a little pricey, but honestly they're so good i don't even care. Cashiers are always super friendly. read more

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 ;] read more

Well I'll be damned, it's finally here! There are plenty of items to choose from, ranging from bulk stuffs to produce to even some to-go lunch options! Don't expect the Food Collective to have the same assortment of products as Berkeley Bowl or Whole Foods, but for their size, they pack a pretty big punch with selection. Now, what I consider even better than their selection are their prices. Strolling in there after my three back to back classes and spending less than three dollars for an all organic lunch comprised of fresh produce? Count me in! The workers here are helpful, insightful, and primarily student volunteers. Which, let me add, is really great to see. Yet another collective that will hopefully blossom! read more

The four-star rating perfectly describes my relationship to this enterprise. I'm a fan and a supporter! I've been in several times to buy coffee, pastry and produce. There are often good values, such as $1 bags of produce that looks "old" but might be just coming into middle age. The coffee, from the Thanksgiving Coffee Company, is most welcome, but kind of over-roasted and oily tasting. The pastries, sourced from Nabalom, are not uplifting. But there's yogurt and milk from Straus http://www.strausfamilycreamery.com/ , and all sorts of other things that you'll be happy to see. And coming here is the right thing to do! The Collective has been open for something like a month, so there are still growing pains. I hope that it continues to improve! By the way, today (December 17) is the last day that they'll be open until January 17, when Cal starts its spring semester. There are major bargains today, like 25-cent pastries. Come and get 'em! read more

Great cause! We need to bring cooperatives back to Berkeley. This place is stocked with all of the basics, as good as it gets for amount of space they have! Strengths are definitely their produce and bulk items, as well as their coffee. I had a cup this morning and it was absolutely wonderful. It's also a great place to stop by if you just want to buy a sandwich or some fruit for lunch and not have to wait for your food to be prepared. Staff are all very friendly students. I would recommend this simply for the cause, it's incredible that students can start up a business! I hope to see them expand in the future! read more

Went in to buy a study snack during finals. The deliver guy from Tofu Yu was there and he recommended the quinoa sushi, I was more eager to buy Tofu Yu items because it was just delivered and fresh. Came out with the Tofu Yu Gluten free quinoa sushi, Spicy Curry veggie wraps and Divine chocolate. The quinoa sushi was sooooo goood. I was not disappointed. Try it for yourself. Only minor downside of this place is the items are pricey (normal for sustainable food). Willing to pay the price for quality. read more

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 read more

See all

i love their stuff..only issue is their staff. They all seem totally stoned or not caring. I have been in here about three times, and each time, I was either totally ignored, had to ask for help, and after checking out, was not offered a receipt or bag (three people working, no body else in the store). This is totally unacceptable and they should work on that...otherwise..good stuff, crappy service read more

It's no secret that I love the Food Collective. I'm in there daily! My favorite products are the local and organic veggies, the cheap and organic bulk items (especially the yogurt peanuts...), and the mass amounts of fair trade chocolate! It's awesome that so many students and non-students in the East Bay run the Food Collective with their 2-hour weekly effort. The store is the product of so many people's visions! Go BSFC! read more

Really cool space and passionate volunteers. It also has a great mission to provide low-cost food--but it's very expensive, and definitely out of a student's budget. read more

I totally support what this place stands for and what it's aiming to do. They have some pretty good pastries and staples such as flour, salt, granola, and other grains here. They also have a number of other organic, locally produced, or environmentally friendly products from soap to cereal to some seasonal produce. Everything may not be the most inexpensive, but you can feel good supporting them and not worry about where your money is going. read more