JSU holds second annual farmers market for students and staff

Kayla Sims

Staff Writer

Agriculture is Mississippi’s number one industry with approximately 34,700 farms and 94 farmers markets across the state.

Jackson State University Dining Service gave students, faculty and staff a chance to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at the farmers market Sept. 22, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Students and staff gathered outside of the student center to buy locally grown produce and interact with JSU’s Dining employees.

There were several fruit options buyers could choose from including freshly grown pineapples, watermelons, mangos, grapes, strawberries, kiwis, and cantaloupes.

Customers also choose from the many vegetable options including, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage greens, squash, and greens.

Malachi Newsom, a senior healthcare administration major from Jackson Miss., was a shopper at this year’s farmers market.

“I am a vegetarian and I was expecting the bagged, processed fruits and vegetables but to my surprise the fruit was organic which is not only healthier but also cheaper and isn’t sprayed with harmful pesticides and preservatives” said Newsom

According to Margaret Thomas, an employee at Jackson State the purpose of the farmers market is to provide students with healthier alternatives and bring attention to the local markets in and around Jackson.

Throughout the years the number of farmers markets have increased as well as the rise of vegan and vegetarianism within the state of Mississippi.

Kenya Towner, a senior mathematics major from Olive Branch, Miss., talked about the benefits and necessities of farmers markets coming to campus.

“I think farmers markets should be like a monthly thing instead of coming once a semester, because that’ll give students who are like me that don’t eat meat or animal products the opportunity to rack up on fruits and vegetables,” said Towner

Towner added that the cost of produce within a grocery store is significantly higher than the produce bought from local farmers which could be detrimental to college students on a budget.

“Produce is expensive, but what we try to do here at Jackson State is help students obtain healthier foods at a cheaper price. Students were able to purchase with cash, credit and even tiger bucks,” said Thomas

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Americans do not eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables in their diets.

Nutritionist Amy Calhoun explained how college students do not have direct access to organic food and the effects of not eating healthy.

“College students are not the healthiest people in the world and that is because they do not have direct access to the healthy diets that they need to be functioning every day, Farmers Markets are the link that colleges are missing in order to help students receive what they are missing,” said Calhoun.

Jonathan Henderson, a freshman civil engineering major from Monroe, Louisiana talked about this year’s farmers market.

“There were a lot of options, I think there should have been more advertising because I just happened to go to the student center, but overall I liked it and I had a chance to grab a few fruits that I haven’t had in a while,” said Henderson