Fresh produce, bottled spices, blue tents with reusable grocery bags and a large crowd of students, volunteers and faculty members gathered on Seventh Street Plaza during a free mini farmer’s market on Wednesday afternoon.
The market, hosted by SJSU Student Involvement, was a way to help individuals connect with campus and community resources to fight food instability, according to its Instagram.
SJSU Student Involvement is grounded in their commitment to the values of inclusivity, integrity and success, and promotes community, leadership and learning through their programs according to the SJSU website.
Food insecurity is the inability to access adequate food consistently due to limited financial resources, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Forest green spinach, bunches of leafy lettuce, orange bundles of carrots, cartons of Brussel sprouts and fuchsia-colored radishes were piled high onto tables draped in black cloth under Spartan-blue tents along the street.
Loaves of packaged bread also lined the edges of the blanketed tables, next to sticks of local honey placed in a wooden crate for attendees to take.
Jess Prudent, campus programming coordinator for Student Involvement, wore a colorful pink, purple, green and red bandana on her head as she assisted students with gathering their groceries of choice.
Prudent said the market is a part of Commuter Appreciation Week, which is being recognized since commuters have numerous housing stability issues, food instability and financial instability.
This week marks the 4th Annual Commuter Appreciation Week taking place from March 11 to March 14, according to the SJSU Instagram. Its purpose is to celebrate commuter students and bring awareness to their needs, according to the same site.
“Students shouldn’t have to worry about having enough to eat,” Prudent said. “They should just have to worry about passing their midterms or finals, taking care of themselves and taking care of their community.”
Among the U.S. population, food insecurity has been linked to a multitude of health risks, including cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Approximately 14%-59% of students on college campuses report food insecurity at some point in their college career, with an average food insecurity rate of 42%, according to the same site.
Prudent said if Student Involvement could have a market like this every week, it would.
She said what the school needs is for students to continue advocating for the importance of these events and the importance of being able to access affordable produce.
“Then, they can focus on passing and bringing all that knowledge back to communities, which is the dream,” Prudent said.
Lined in front of the Central Classroom Building and next to the grocery-filled tables were specialists and volunteers promoting programs for proper health and wellness among college students.
Among the tents was the Santa Clara County Social Service Agency, where the CalFresh Food Program was being promoted.
The County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency's purpose is to provide resources in a culturally responsive manner, and to protect, educate and empower individuals in the community, according to the County of Santa Clara website
CalFresh Food is a nutrition program for California residents with low income that increases their food budget, according to the same site.
Sandra Loredo, a Higher Education liaison and business policy implementation specialist for Santa Clara County, said many students do not always know if they are eligible for such services.
“We are trying to reach out to these students to let them know that this help is available to them,” Loredo said. “Ultimately, we want to provide and outsource our services to help students eat and shop healthier.”
Loredo said with CalFresh Food, there are incentive programs that can help stretch a student’s budget.
She also said she appreciates collaborating with SJSU because events like the market will greatly benefit those on campus.
“I can only hope that events like these continue, for the well-being of the students here,” she said.
After gathering the leafy greens and grocery items of their choice, students placed their paper bags into the reusable tote bags they were given when they checked into the event.
Kinesiology junior Isabela Britton, who placed her bag on the floor to give her arm a break, said she has some recipes she would love to try with the new groceries she picked up.
“I’m thinking of making a soup with the rainbow Swiss chard and kale,” Britton said. “I also love making ramen, because I can use the green onions on top.”
Britton said students a lot of the time cannot afford proper groceries, so it is essential to have markets like these on college campuses.
She said it is important to have fresh produce and to educate students on nutrition.
“It is amazing that the school is giving everyone a chance to support themselves,” Britton said.
