The Farmers Market is back after a pause due to COVID - and there’s more people than before

Honeycrisp apples, sold by McLeaf’s, a vendor at the University of Maryland Farmer’s Market. (Jalyn Mathis/The Black Explosion)

The University of Maryland’s annual farmers’ market has returned with fresh food and items from local small businesses after the COVID-19 pandemic caused people to evacuate campus. Now, more students than before are taking advantage of this convenient and affordable market. 

The farmers market reopened September 8th. It will remain open every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine, at Tawes Plaza Gardens until November 17th. 

However, this isn't typical for the market. Chassity Hare, one of the vendors from Country Vittles, which sells local meats and eggs, said the market usually opens in the spring and continues through the summer. She said it usually closes before Thanksgiving. 

“We have been here since the start of the farmers market and things are for sure different,” Hare said. 

Every Wednesday, students look forward to going to the market to shop, or even look around. “Even if I'm not going to buy anything, I love to just look around,” said Mary Walsh, a sophomore government and politics major at the University of Maryland.

And since the market opened,  it has been packed with students each time, and vendors are selling out. Some upperclassmen have been going for the first time this year, as the pandemic has led them to get out more and try different events whenever they have the chance. 

“You see an influx of people now because more people are conscious of where their food comes from,'' Hare said. “Especially chicken. People are coming to the market for things they can’t find at the grocery store.” After the “fried chicken shortage” that left Americans worried, people desired a change in where they bought their groceries. 

“There wasn’t a meat shortage, all the farmers are still there,” Hare said. “The workers were short because of COVID and a lot of meat actually had to go to waste.” Now, more students favor getting fresh meat, fruit, honey and eggs from farmers. 

“We want food straight from the source, which I’m assuming is just like other people want,” Walsh said. It appears that more students have started to attend the market than before. 

The market consists of local farmers and vendors with tables advertising and selling their products. These vendors are local businesses that guarantee fresh produce and handmade crafts. Many students fully support buying from small owned businesses.

Food you can find throughout  the market include: all-natural meat and eggs, an entire fudge bar line-up, kettle corn, all sorts of warm bread, freshly grown fruit, tasty apple cider, sweet wine for the legal drinkers and more. 

And for those who are not hungry, beauty-based vendors such as Randalia Bee Hives have some of the sweetest honey and handmade soaps, face masks, chapsticks and tea bags. Beads by Bettina also have a table with hand-crafted, unique necklaces, bracelets and pretty pearl earrings. 

If you’re in-between classes or just need a break on Wednesdays, the farmers market is open with 10 different vendors for everyone to indulge in all they have to offer.