The Office of Sustainability hosted a farmers market Thursday in the Union Plaza as part of the University’s Food Day celebration.
“The festival highlights food-related resources in the area, ranging from local famers to campus and community gardens,” said Lindsey Abernathy, project coordinator with the Office of Sustainability.
The farmers market gave students the opportunity to buy or sample locally grown produce and learn about food-related topics such as composting.
“Food Day is important because it draws attention to the far-reaching impacts that our food choices have on our health, the environment and the economy,” Abernathy said.
Various campus organizations were involved in the event, including Real Food Rebels, the Mississippi Sustainable Agriculture Network and the Ole Miss Garden Club. It wasn’t just the University that got involved — there were also booths from many local farmers and vendors such as Oxsicles, the 7D Farm and Cotton’s Café.
“It’s important to promote local growth,” said Jessica Byrd, sales manager of Cotton’s Café. “Local Mississippi businesses are important, and as much exposure as you can get is beneficial.”
While at the market, students could also sign up to volunteer for the university’s composting program and Food Bank.
“A lot of people don’t know that we take food from the Rebel Market and the Residential College,” said Angie Jordan, University composting program team member and sophomore integrated marketing and communications major. “If we don’t promote that, then they won’t know what’s happening to their food before or after.”
Abernathy said the farmers market is a kick-off event for a month full of food-related activities. Over the next few weeks there will be a screening of the movie “Food Chains” along with a Compost “Sift-a-thon.” Abernathy said the Office of Sustainability plans to post notices about food waste around campus, including at the Rebel Market.
Julia Ashley, sophomore elementary education major, said the market helped show what Oxford has to offer.
“There’s stuff here that I didn’t realize we had as a freshman,” Ashley said. “It’s really awesome.”
