Harvest Table Culinary Group Delivers What Students Crave with Fresh, Insight-Driven Dining Innovations that Go Beyond the Plate
Morrisville, NC (August 25, 2025) — As colleges and universities prepare to welcome students back for the 2025-2026 academic year, Harvest Table Culinary Group, a premiere hospitality company where every meal tells a story, is meeting students’ ever-changing dining preferences with a dynamic lineup of new programs and partnerships—reinforcing its commitment to dining excellence, sustainability, and student wellbeing across its campus communities.
For Harvest Table, it’s about thinking Beyond the Plate: asking better questions and reimagining what campus dining can be, an approach rooted in giving students a voice at the table. Through its napkin talk community boards, Your Feedback Matters program, and Student Board of Directors, real-time insights from guests shape dining programs that evolve with students’ needs, expectations, and perspectives.
“At Harvest Table Culinary Group, we go beyond the plate because we believe it’s a powerful way to build community and foster connections,” said Mary Thornton, President and Founder of Harvest Table Culinary Group. “Dining at Harvest Table goes beyond sustenance—it’s a sensory experience that sparks connection and creates lasting memories. Through innovative culinary events and immersive moments, we ignite curiosity, inspire creativity, and enrich campus life with a true sense of belonging.”
Expanding Harvest Table’s Campus Impact
Harvest Table Culinary Group is deepening its commitment to addressing student food insecurity and reducing food waste. Following a successful pilot program at three partner campuses, students can expect an expanded partnership with “Too Good To Go,” a food waste reduction platform, to all campus partners this academic year.
Students can purchase a “Surprise Bag” from their favorite campus retail restaurants for a discounted price to be picked up toward the end of service. Each bag is packed with fresh items that can’t be sold the following day, helping to reduce food waste while making meals more accessible to all students. Sustainability is not just a part of the story—it’s Harvest Table’s foundation and so far, nearly 300 meals and 731 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions have been saved across Harvest Table pilot programs.
According to DiningStyles 2025 survey, reducing food waste and the donation of surplus food continue to be the most important sustainability initiatives to guests. Today’s college generation is more engaged than ever, with 84% supporting causes and a growing number eager to give back through advocacy, volunteering, and donations that reflect their values and drive for impact, according to Blackbaud Institute’s “Gen Z at the Table” report.
Building Community from Day One
Wellbeing goes beyond food—it’s shaped by emotional, social, and environmental factors. Harvest Table creates dining experiences that support the individual, strengthen community connections, and foster student success.
To kick off the academic year, “Welcome Home” events will be hosted at every campus during the first week of classes—helping students feel at home while learning how to make the most of their campus dining experience. Reflected by a student-first philosophy, these events introduce students to their campus dining program while featuring:
- Local community partners and businesses
- Meal plan information and guidance
- Access to the campus registered dietitian
- Interactive experiences and giveaways
These immersive moments are part of Harvest Table’s broader mission to foster a culture of care, support student success, and create lasting memories through food.
Fresh Global Flavors on the Go: New Handhelds at Lemon & Olive
This academic year, the Lemon & Olive proprietary restaurant concept has been reimagined with a fresh focus on handhelds inspired by global cuisines. Harvest Table’s culinary team came together to refine the Mediterranean-inspired dishes students already love, while also bringing West Coast BBQ to life, a brand-new proprietary concept featuring bold, regional flavors with a California twist.
The expanded Mediterranean handheld menu centers around trapizzino, a Roman-style street food resembling a stuffed pizza pocket, drawing inspiration from Italy, Spain, and Turkey.
According to the 2024 DiningStyles Survey, Mediterranean cuisine is not only a top choice among students seeking special diet options, it also ranks within the five most popular cuisines overall among all respondents.
About Harvest Table Culinary Group
Harvest Table is a premiere hospitality company reimagining campus dining for good. With a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community they help colleges and universities build vibrant, connected campuses—one scratch made meal at a time.
For our campus partners, we unlock new value, optimize resources and stay ahead of evolving campus needs to drive long-term partnership success-Beyond the plate.
