[caption id="attachment_3022" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="A SmartKart, identical to the one on 22nd and H Street, feeds hungry students and educates business students. Photo courtesy of On the Fly."]
[/caption]If you are walking past 22nd and H streets, you will probably see a bright lime green truck not selling your ordinary hot dogs or gyros, but organic street food.
It's the new local eco-vending SmartKart, and not only has it been feeding hungry students since it appeared September 28th, but it has an education component, as well.
"This exciting new program will satisfy students and members of the academic community’s need for great-tasting, healthy and natural foods on the go," Todd Cavaluzzi, the VP of Marketing for On the Fly said in a press release. "It will also give students a taste of running their own business."
The cart, the only SmartKart at any area university, is the creation of the company On the Fly. Tired of greesy, unhealthy food options, the three friends decided to offer healthy alternatives to traditional street food.
The SmartKarts are electric vehicles with zero emissions and are able to plug into an electric power source. When the vehicles cannot be plugged in, they run on a gas generator as a hybrid.
Where's all this food coming from?
On The Fly supports local companies and suppliers by selling locally produced food. The company's famous Chicken Estofado tacos contain chicken from a local Alexandria company, Cuisine Solutions, that uses locally sourced organic chicken and all other meals are created in On The Fly's central kitchen and are then sent out on the SmartKarts. Some of the choices offered on the menu are no preservative hot dogs, veggie tacos, turkey chilli and mac and cheese.
"You don’t have to sacrifice great taste to eat in a healthy and sustainable manner," said Cavaluzzi.
As for the academic component, The On the Fly executives are piloting a new university lecture program, which intends to teach students how to manage a small business. The cart, placed on campus in conjunction with the GW School of Business, will help illustrate how to manage employees, food stock levels, marketing, and promotions.
"This combination of classroom and practical learning is a particularly effective way for students to learn skills required to run other smaller companies, and for On The Fly to contribute to the DC University community," said Cavaluzzzi.
Smart Karts are located on the National Mall, the National Zoo, the Washington Nationals' stadium and the National Arboretum, as well as in downtown locations like Chinatown.
The hours are Monday to Wednesday, 11am to 6pm, Thursday and Friday, 11am to 10 pm and 11am to 6 pm on Saturday while Sunday's hours depend on demand.
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