The Goshen Farmers’ Market has re-opened after taking a couple of months off for the winter season.
Each Tuesday in April, from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m., students, staff, and professors can visit the market on the SIUE main quad.
Vendor sell produce, flowers, and handmade crafts such as candles.
The Land of Goshen Community Market parters with the group known as “Sustainability at SIUe” to host the farmer’s market every year.
Both organizations are dedicated to fostering good practices that reduce climate change and enhance sustainability.
Although farmer’s markets are not a new concept, they are becoming increasingly popular due to the demand for organic, locally grown foods across the country.
For students whose diet mainly consists of fast, cheap food, a farmer’s market on the quad is ideal.
According to The Farmers Market Coalition, farmers who sell organic produce help cut down on pollution by minimizing pesticide use and by decreasing the distance food travels from farm to market. The Farmers Market Coalition states that farmers market produce is usually sold less than 50 miles from where it is grown, whereas the food that is sold in stores can sometimes be driven thousands of miles to supermarkets.
This reduction in the amount of driving can reduce the emission of greenhouse gases from vehicles.
Besides supporting farmers, markets support artists, florists, craftsmen, and they can provide learning experiences as students are encouraged to ask producers where their food and products come from.