The ETSU Farmers Market is something that I look forward to every week during my class breaks. Getting a doughnut from Auntie Ruth’s, a coffee from Mason Joe’s and looking at all the other vendors always gives me a much-needed mood boost during the week.
I recently interviewed Marc Spiegel, president of the ETSU Farmers Market, and he told me a bit about the organization. He reminded me of all the reasons why I love the market.
The Farmers Market is a tradition we’ve had at ETSU since it was founded in 2012, and it has grown and changed and brought many wonderful things to our school throughout the years.
Students have been able to interact and build relationships with local businesses, and we are able to see the value of smaller businesses with more homemade products instead of only purchasing products from large corporations.
The market has also acted as a sort of meeting or gathering place for the ETSU community, which I’ve felt the school has been lacking since the Culp Center closed for renovation. People tend to gather around food and activities, and the market brings both. It has brought students and faculty together in a way we haven’t really had since campus construction began.
If you go to the market regularly, you also know that several student organizations set up tents there every week to talk about joining their organization or to spread awareness and educate people about their cause.
The market has also brought more food options to campus, which is a nice change of pace from the dining hall or the same chains many of us go to all the time.
A lot of college students can feel bogged down from constantly doing the same things or going to the same places. The market adds a little bit of variety to students’ days, which can give us a break and always seems to improve my day. Students should go for a relaxing break from classes and see what the local businesses have to offer.
The Farmers Market is hosted on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Pride Walk.
