Farmer’s Market comes to BBC

By: Luis Roca/Contributing Writer

After their first experience with a farmer’s market on campus, students have asked for healthier food stands in Biscayne Bay.

On the first day of March, Brothers Farmers market installed a stand on the north side of the Wolfe University Center, providing fresh and healthy food at reasonable prices.

The stand offered a variety of fruits and vegetables: including pineapples, strawberries, cantaloupes, oranges, grapes, kiwis, tomatoes and others.

Some of the students walking by the stand were surprised and gratified at the same time.

“This is great! Instead of buying a burrito, I can eat fresh fruit and it is even cheaper,” said Michael Vasconez, social science freshman, while buying a pair of peaches.

The Wellness Center invited the farmer’s market as part of the 2011 Wellness Expo.

“The expo was meant to promote health and wellness on campus,” said Dona S. Walcott, assistant director of the Wellness Center. “The farmer’s market came to campus for the first time to introduce students and faculty to fruits and vegetables and encourage them to eat better instead of just chips and sodas.”

Three weeks since the expo happened students await the return of the market.

“Having access to fresh fruit and [not have] to go out of my way to get it is invaluable,” said Andrew Altemamn, a hospitality major.

Raisa Becerra, a public relation senior, agreed with Altemamn and said, “I love eating healthy and they should do a [farmer’s market] more often, it’s very convenient for students in the dorms.”

“The idea is to have it every month but we need more sponsors,” said Walcott. “We are also trying to bring the fresh fruit vending machine to campus.”

Unlike Biscayne Bay Campus, the Modesto Maidique Campus has a fresh-fruit vending machine and a farmer’s market that operates weekly.

“I think eating well is very important,” said Andrea Moreno, a graduate student. “We should have the fresh market [at BBC] every month.”

The vendors from Brothers Farmer’s Market were enthusiastic about coming back to BBC.

“We were invited this time,” said Lissette Munoz, manager of Brothers Farmers Market, “but we’d love to come every month.”

At their stand, cantaloupes sold for $2, corn three for $1, two boxes of strawberries sold for $3 and honeydews for $3 each.

Brother’s Farmers Market additionally offers a variety of organic fruits and vegetables. They have two locations one: in Davie and one in Hollywood, but they also specialized in bringing their produces to fairs and events.

According to Munoz, the sales at BBC were more than decent for being their first time there.

The continuity of the event will be determined within the next few weeks, but according to Walcott, it is more likely that it will become a once-a-month event next semester if all the logistic are successfully completed.