Fla. hurricanes lead to higher food prices

While the costs of food rises for Dining Services, students preparing to purchase meal plans for the spring semester will not see an increase in meal plan costs.

Meal plan prices potentially could increase in upcoming years, even though prices have not yet been determined.

The rise in prices comes from the lack of produce coming in from Florida because of the hurricanes, said Clete Myers, the resident district manager for Dining Services.

"Tomatoes, specifically, are currently much [more costly] than normal," Myers said. "Poultry products are [more costly] than usual as well. Higher gasoline prices have also affected the costs of some goods."

Myers said the pricing of meal plans has not been determined for next year. The pricing for meal plans is determined during the spring semester for the following fall.

Factors that determine meal plan pricing are the rate of inflation of food, pay increases and insurance benefits for Dining Services employees, Myers said.

"Dining Services is a self-supporting entity, receiving no funding from the Commonwealth," Myers said.

For the future, some students have thoughts on what they would do about their spending and their meal plan.

"I would hope that [Dining Services] would increase the cost only as much as they needed to," sophomore Mike Olson said.

Sophomore Veronica Peters said, "I hope I’m not here if and when dining prices go up."

Myers also advised students about spending habits. He said students should "spend within their means and choose the dining option or meal plan that best meets their need."