Despite the $1 increase for Krishna Lunch this semester, the Hare Krishnas have seen more customers than ever before.
About 100 more people a day visit the Plaza of the Americas for lunch service put on by Gainesville's group of Hare Krishnas, a religious sect based on Hindu scriptures, said Kalakantha Das, Krishna temple president.
Das said that's in addition to the 500 to 1,000 people the nonprofit organization fed each day before the price increase.
"We have a blast doing this every day, and people pick up on that," Das said.
The price for Krishna Lunch increased to $4 this semester after 747 customers who were surveyed in November stated it would be the best way to deal with increasing costs of materials, fuel and food.
Das said only one student has complained about the increase.
The higher price has helped the group continue breaking even on costs and keep its second serving line to increase efficiency, which required more servers, Das said.
He said the organization also upgraded to biodegradable utensils with forks made of potato starch and plates and cups made of sugar cane byproduct, he said.
Kimball Hobbs, a UF political science senior who opts for Krishna Lunch about twice a week, said sustainability was a main reason why she's OK with the price increase.
The increase was "bound to happen" and hasn't been enough to steer her away from buying the vegetarian lunch, Hobbs said.
Maria Carter, a UF alumna who graduated in 2004, said she voted to keep the price at $3 and charge extra for second servings instead.
But she said it's still an appropriate increase.
"People who complain about it should just eat garbage if they don't want to pay for good food," Carter said.
With two serving lines and more servers, she said she also spends about 10 minutes less waiting in line each time.
"People I know that eat it every day continue to eat it every day," Carter said.
Das said this was the first price increase since about five years ago when the organization established a minimum $3 donation to continue the program.
Contributions averaged to about 50 cents a plate before the suggested donation amount, he added.
But he said they never turn anyone away, even if they don't have $4.
"We want everyone to go home fed," Das said.
