Warren Wilson and Sodexo Dining Services have signed the Real Food Challenge Commitment, partnering to become the first college in the Southeast to sign the agreement.

President Solnick and Dining Services General Manager Brian O’Loughlin signed the commitment April 15 in a ceremony on campus. The agreement, augmenting previous sustainability commitments by the College, states that WWC will procure 40 percent “real food” annually by the year 2020. The Local Foods Crew is charged with monitoring the food purchasing.

The national Real Food Challenge seeks to ensure that by 2020 at least 20 percent of college and university food purchases will be in the category of “real food”: local, sustainable, humane and fair in trade. The Warren Wilson agreement is intended to double that percentage.

“We’re thrilled as a college to be signing this and to be partnering with Sodexo,” Solnick said. “I’m especially excited because this is student driven.”