Students get ‘Farm Fresh’ food from local markets on Fairfield Way

Despite cold temperatures and the threat of rain, the Farm Fresh Market was still held on Fairfield Way Friday.

The market runs rain or shine from the start of the semester until the middle of October. It also operates during the summer.

Deya Ray, a 1st-semester communications major, came to the market because she saw the tent. “I’m huge on organic and local food,” she said.

Ray went home with a bag of green beans and squash.

Shopping at Farm Fresh Market also saves students and faculty a trip to the grocery store. The produce is fresh and the prices are reasonable.

Farm Fresh Market operates from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. They sell a variety of fresh produce from around the state and the region. The market operates on a cash-only basis.

The market is staffed primarily by UConn students. However, representatives from the farms supplying produce also come to be at the market.

Larry Rayment, Area Assistant Manager, said that the produce comes from East Windsor, Tolland and UConn’s Spring Manor Market among other places. Some of the produce comes from regional areas rather than directly from Connecticut.

Rayment also said that the produce varies weekly depending on what the farms have available.

Josh Ivaldi, a 7th semester electrical engineering major works at the market. He said that the produce sold includes strawberries, blueberries, corn, squash, kale and pumpkins. The market also had fresh honey and apple cider for sale.

“The corn is delicious raw,” Ivaldi said.

The market also includes toadskin melons, lemon cucumbers and green beans.

The market normally has a good turnout with between 80 and 100 customers. Many of the customers are UConn students. Both students and faculty go shopping, although they tend to buy different things.

Faculty favor squash, kale, and more dinner-type produce. Students favor strawberries, blueberries and other fruit.

“The berries aren’t local, but they’re a big seller with the students so we bring them in,” said Rayment.

Farm Fresh Market tries to market to students as much as it can. However, the produce and the market also appeal to the staff.

“I come every time. My favorite part of the market is that it’s located on campus,” said Mary Briggs, who works at the Homer Babbidge Library.

Briggs, who loves Farm Fresh Market, bought corn, apples, green beans, squash and onions on Friday.

Although the market has a better turnout when the weather is warmer, people were still stopping to shop on Friday, a day where the weather was colder than it had been most of the semester and rain started to fall shortly after the market opened for business.

The last Farm Fresh Market will be on Friday, October 12.