Cal State Long Beach’s farmers market will return this week, and this semester students will see the stands of fruit and vegetables appear on campus more often.
The farmers market will now be held every other week in front of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, as opposed to last semester’s once-a-month schedule, according to Associated Students Inc. Chief Programming Officer Irving Barcenas.
The event, hosted by the ASI Special Events Commission, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and will bring vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables, pressed juices, packaged nuts and hummus, among other items.
Beach Pride Program Manager Keya Allen-Littleton said she is not sure if all the same vendors from spring farmers markets will return this semester; however, she said the same number of vendors should return this year.
“Last year, I believe there were 22 [vendors],” Allen-Littleton said. “Right now, we have 18 to 20 and should have more by [Wednesday].”
Some students, like freshman civil engineering major Benjamin Dadacay, said they like the new planned frequency of the farmers market and think that it will increase the odds of people attending.
“I would go for the fresh food,” Dadacay said. “I have been to farmers markets in Long Beach before and love shopping for fruits. I would like to see variety.”
Senior mechanical engineering major Patryk Grochowski said he will consider grabbing a snack on campus now that he knows the farmers market will arrive more often.
“[It] is a great idea because it gives us a healthy option,” Grochowski said. “Otherwise, I would have to choose between the Outpost Grill or Carl’s Jr., and that’s terrible.”
Allen- Littleton said that although the process of bringing the farmers market to campus was time consuming, overall, it went off without a hitch. Spring 2013 was the first time CSULB had hosted a farmers market.
“[L.A.] City Farms is the company who does all the leg work,” she said. “They set up the market, deal with the health inspector and get the farmers. Although there weren’t any complications in the process of setting this event up, it was a very long one that required a lot of paperwork.”
Allen-Littleton said the farmers market was brought to campus in response to students who complained that there was a lack of healthy food choices on campus. From there, she said, ASI leaders looked to provide additional options for students.
“Having the farmers market means having a healthy and convenient option for not just students but everyone on campus,” she said. “Half the people [at the spring farmers market] were staff doing their full-blown grocery shopping. We get to eat healthy and support local farmers at the same time.”
Allen-Littleton said she would like to host the farmers market at multiple locations on campus, but for now, it will be held only in front of the SRWC.