Farmers market comes to Tempe campus

ASU is sponsoring a monthly farmers market at the Tempe campus this semester to promote healthy eating and sustainability among students, faculty and staff. This event is a collaborative effort, sponsored by ASU departments, student groups and community organizations.

The farmers market will be conducted on the Orange Mall, west of the Memorial Union fountain from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Tuesdays – Feb. 16, March 23 and April 20. The market will feature about 20 vendors with fresh produce grown by local Arizona farmers and other local products.

Engrained, a learning-living ASU restaurant committed to locally grown food and environmentally responsible practices, also will participate in the farmers market by selling healthy, prepared food items. Tempe campus grown produce also will be available. 

While the event is geared toward ASU students, faculty and staff, the outside community is encouraged to visit the market as well. The farmers market concept started as a service learning course class project in the then University College. The concept was revived during ASU’s fall 2009 semester through a joint interest by Wellness and Health Promotion, the University Sustainability Practices Office within the Global Institute of Sustainability, and the Health and Counseling Student Action Committee. The enthusiastic reception of the event has urged event organizers to make the farmers market a permanent event held monthly. 

This effort has been augmented by the addition of a dedicated team led by Rebecca Reining, coordinator of University Housing-Sustainability & Strategic Initiatives. Reining shared her excitement about this event and her outlook on the future of the farmers market at ASU.

“I am delighted to be part of such an enriching campus event," Reining said. "I look forward to working with my team to embed a conscious sense of value for sustainability and healthy-eating and green-living practices into both the ASU culture and the greater community.”

For more information about the farmers market at ASU's Tempe campus, contact: Chad Williams, chair of Health and Counseling Student Action Committee, at hcsac.asu@gmail.com; Rebecca Reining at rebecca.jew@asu.edu; or Dee Logan, coordinator of Arizona Community Farmers' Markets, at deniselogan@yahoo.com.

The sponsors include: ASU Health and Counseling Student Action Committee, Undergraduate Student Government, the University Sustainability Practices Office within the Global Institute of Sustainability, Engrained, Facilities Management, Wellness and Health Promotion, Parking and Transit, Food Safety & Public Health, Memorial Union, University Housing, Whole Foods Market, and the Arizona Community Farmers’ Markets.