Colorado Mesa University’s plaza filled with a combination of local produce providers, local artisans and CMU clubs and organizations on Sept. 21. The Downtown Farmer’s Market travelled to campus for a one-night-only event at the conclusion of their 13 week season. This was the first time the Farmers’ Market has partnered with CMU.
Caitlyn Love, a former student that works with Downtown Grand Junction, DDA (Downtown Development Authority) and BID (Business Improvement District) worked with CMU President Tim Foster and ASG (Associated Student Government) to bring the event on campus.
Love hopes the event will help to bring CMU and the community closer together.
“We’re always just looking for good ways to partner with CMU, and so this was just a great way to bring the community on campus,” Love said.
In addition to showing the community what CMU has to offer, Love hopes the students enjoyed getting a sample the downtown area.
“I just really want to see the students come down to the farmers’ market. I want them to see a good taste of what our farmers’ market, normally downtown, has,” Love said. “We always want students to come downtown. I just think we have the best main street, and I just think the shops down there have a lot to offer. We have great restaurants, great stores, everything to offer downtown so we want them to come downtown and enjoy it.”
Wind conditions delayed some of the planned entertainment, but it did not stop live music from playing or the combination of students and community members from moving from booth to booth under the tent.
According to Love, an estimated 30 vendors were set up in the plaza. Vendors ranged from produce sellers to metal workmanship and club booths.
Jackson Freismuth, former CMU student and owner of Palisade Peach Direct, smiled and handed out free samples of Palisade peaches to the crowd. In addition to the peaches, Freismuth also had a variety of fruits and vegetables for sale.
Freismuth is competing against larger peach companies, so the Farmer’s Market gave him a chance to promote his business that ships fruit from trees to the customer’s home.
If the event is measured as a success, there may be plans to make it a yearly occurrence.
“I think it would be great. We will have to see how this one goes,” Love said. “Right now it’s looking great, and so if we could do one market every year here, that would be perfect.”
