USF’s Feed-A-Bull food pantry has seen a high demand for shelf-safe and fresh items since introducing cold storage last fall. ORACLE PHOTO/RACHELL ROSS

USF’s Feed-A-Bull opened new cold storage on the Tampa campus last semester — helping it provide more healthy, fresh food to hundreds of students this spring. 

Feed-A-Bull, which opened in late 2015, is an exclusive food pantry for USF students to browse and take groceries and personal hygiene products once a week, according to its webpage.

The pantry expanded last summer after receiving a $100,000 donation from The Mosaic Company, a global agricultural company. 

Feed-A-Bull then introduced a new cold storage system in fall 2025, meaning it now accepts, stores, and offers refrigerated items — such as fruits, vegetables, deli items and microwavable meals. 

Katie Webster, a USF dietitian and Feed-A-Bull supervisor, said the addition of cold storage has allowed the pantry to better meet student needs while improving the variety and quality of food offered.

“We have seen a noticeable increase in the demand for fresh items such as produce and dairy,” Webster said. “Students have expressed strong interest in more nutritious options such as fresh fruit and vegetables, and these items tend to run out quickly.”

She said in-demand items at Feed-A-Bull usually include shelf-stable staples, such as rice and pasta, but now also include fresh produce and dairy due to the pantry’s cold storage.

Webster said the pantry has seen steady usage this semester, with over 2,600 total visits as of March, compared to just over 1,100 in September for the fall.

But while the cold storage has expanded the variety and freshness of foods in the pantry, Webster said rising grocery prices have reduced the availability of certain items.

Related: USF’s Feed-A-Bull completes expansion, opens more cold storage

In addition to a new variety of products, Webster said she believes more students have used the pantry in response to rising grocery and gas prices.

“Higher living costs often mean having to make difficult decisions between essentials like food, transportation, and housing,” Webster said. “As a result, more students are relying on the pantry.”

Farm-level fruit prices grew by 8.2% from January to February, and food prices are predicted to increase 3.6% this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Price Outlook.

Additionally, gas prices in Florida have risen nearly $1 over the last month, averaging about $3.98 per gallon this month compared to about $2.90 in February, according to the American Automobile Association.

Webster said higher costs also make it more challenging for the pantry to maintain a consistent inventory because fewer donations are coming in from the community.

“At times, limited supply means we are not always able to serve as many students as we would like, which can impact overall usage of the pantry,” she said. 

Marland Medina, a junior biomedical sciences major, has been working at Feed-A-Bull since August — stocking shelves, checking student IDs and receiving donations.

Medina said the pantry received more donations last semester compared to this spring, which she also attributed to a recent rise in grocery and gas prices.

“We need donations for the pantry to keep running,” Medina said. “So it’s not the best when we don’t have items, because we have to keep telling people that we rely on donations, and it heavily depends on that.”

Still, adding cold storage has given Feed-A-Bull more space and better storage for healthier, fresher foods, including more protein options and fresh produce.

“Canned foods are great because they’re really reliable, and they last for a long time,” Medina said. “But people also like to see fresh produce so they can add to their meals for a healthy touch.”

Jayden Fenelus, a freshman biomedical science major, has been working at the pantry for about eight months — organizing shelves, working the computer and verifying student IDs.

“I kind of keep the Feed-A-Bull place welcoming, just because we do offer food for people who are in need at USF,” Fenelus said.

Fenelus said most of the students who use the pantry are regulars and come back every week.

“I think just because we see so many people come back, I do think that they have trust in us,” Fenelus said. “They can always come back and grab food, especially if they are in need.”

Still, Fenelus said the cold storage has added traffic in and out because of its fresh produce.

“We do run only on donations, so obviously it’s not the same vegetables every week or two, but I do think that our donors do give us a good rotation in different vegetables,” he said.

Fenelus said the fridge has been useful for expanding the variety of food groups in the pantry — including fruits, which do not stay fresh for long.

“Adding the fridge helped get more fruit for sure,” he said. “I think that we have gotten a couple of fruits, especially star fruit, pineapple a couple of times, and watermelon.”

Fenelus said Feed-A-Bull provides a welcoming space for students, allowing them to return at any time.

“I think the pantry is not just the food in general,” Fenelus said. “I do think that people have the trust in us that they can always come back and grab food, especially if they are in need.”