Agriculture students are bringing the local farmer’s market straight to the University.
Every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. the Brickyard will house booths from the farmer’s market. Selections including vegetables, fruits, nuts, cookies, lotions, and soaps will be sold. Everything sold is homegrown, homemade, and fresh.
Gary Wise, the owner of his family’s farm, and a vendor at the Campus Farmer’s Market, said N.C. State is like home for him.
“Most everyone who works at the booths is related to N.C. State. I definitely wouldn’t be doing this for UNC; State is like home.” Wise said.
The market was originally the idea of Eric Ballard, who has graduated from the University. He started the program in the spring of 2009. It went over so well with the students that it continued during the fall semester and had even more success, according to the Campus Farmer’s Market website.
Traveling is not an issue for the workers and their products; everything comes from the local Raleigh farmer’s market near Centennial Campus. Once a week the patrons transport a selected amount of goods to campus and sell to students. The market accepts cash, credit, and debit.
“The fall semester just had a lot more people. Probably because more students knew about it,” Wise said.
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is largely responsible for the market and its success. It is intended to help raise awareness about the importance of agriculture. It is entirely set up by students. The University has no involvement in the set up of the farmer’s market on campus.
“I’m sure there are a lot of students who don’t know anything about agriculture around here. This is a good chance to show them why it’s useful,” Wise said.
The people working the booths enjoy talking to the students about the products, according to Wise. Various students stop by the booths just to chat and ask questions about the products.
“I enjoy coming out here with everyone because I enjoy coming back to my old campus and seeing all of the students,” Wise said.
In the past, the market has been met with a positive response. On the opening day there were students who purchased goods before the market was completely set up. The flow of people who stopped by was constant throughout the day.
“Students seem to like what we’re offering here. That’s really what we want,” Wise said.
Students in CALS have worked hard to keep this program together for the University and to continue the work of Ballard. His original idea has grown into something that is a regular event on campus. Current agriculture students seem to be working hard to preserve the project.
“It’s a great way to support local agriculture and give students a first hand look at our local farmers’ hard work. Lots of students don’t know what a farmer’s market looks like, so it’s awesome that it’s an experience being provided for everyone,” Erica Akers, a sophomore in poultry science.
Students who are not affiliated with CALS stop by the booths on a regular basis. The fruit and vegetable booth is usually the most popular. There is constantly a line for checking out. The market manages to stay busy the majority of the time, according to Wise.
“This market can teach students something. I think it is definitely a good thing,” Wise said.
