After having to quickly resort to food trucks to feed students and staff following the sudden departure of a campus food provider this spring, Nassau County Community College will now have a food truck again when classes begin on September 3.

The previous food supplier on campus had terminated its contract in April, resulting in the closure of on-campus food and dining establishments as well as a Starbucks.

A new vendor, New York-based Genuine Foods, will offer on-campus food in the food court and at the Campus Market starting in the fall semester, said Jerry Kornbluth, NCC’s vice president for community and government relations. The college is also working to bring a Starbucks back to campus, he said Monday.

According to Genuine Foods’ website, the company has experience serving elementary schools, college campuses and nursing homes. Representatives could not immediately be reached Tuesday.

Kornbluth said the college and the provider have agreed to a five-year contract, with an option to extend for another five years at no cost to the community college.

The university administration came under criticism in the spring when the catering service had to close and students and staff had no choice but to use vending machines. Shortly after the disruption, the university set up food trucks.

According to a college food services document released in June, the college had a contract with CulinArt Group Inc. through May 2026, but the group terminated the contract in April.

At the time, the food provider had proposed charging the college about $320,000 annually for the next seven years, but that was too expensive, Kornbluth said.

Shortly thereafter, students and staff gathered on campus to say that the lack of food on campus was hindering classes and was part of larger problems with school administration.

Genuine Foods has been selected as a food supplier for other colleges across the country, including Eastern Oregon University and Lees-McRae College in North Carolina.

According to a press release from the Eastern Oregon school, Genuine Foods will introduce a number of new menu options, including plant-based and allergen-friendly meals. The partnership places a focus on sustainability, with plans to reduce food waste, source food from local vendors and implement environmentally friendly practices throughout the food service area.

The company is expected to conduct a regular survey of students about their food preferences, and the new full-service food court will be called the Prowler Grill and Eatery, Kornbluth said.

Joie Tyrrell is a Long Island native and has covered education for Newsday since 1998.