CSUN’s farmers market celebrates Black History Month
Every Tuesday on the CSUN campus, packs of students can be found convening and lining up in the Matador Square. What brings them out? The Associated Students farmers market, where local vendors, unique food and activities all work together in encouraging CSUN students to take a moment away from their academics to connect with their peers.
For at least a decade, the Associated Students group at CSUN have made the farmers market a weekly campus event. Along with promoting sustainability and buying local, the farmers market also serves to create a sense of community and wellbeing for students and shoppers alike. Occasionally, the Associated Students will assign a theme to the event to raise campus engagement and awareness. During the last week of February, the market’s theme was made Black History Month.
Milana Hale, who is a member of the Associated Students and a music industry administration major, believes the Black History Month theme is a way to make Black students feel appreciated and recognized.
“I think it’s important for students on campus to see that their culture is represented,” said Hale. “I think even if they don’t interact with what we have, as long as they see it, you know, they can feel seen and know that their campus is acknowledging them and their culture.”
Themes are common for the market. Another member of the Associated Students, Jocelyn Herrera, said that depending on which cultural event or holiday is coming up, they will make an effort to theme the farmers market in accordance. During May, the market will have the theme of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to show support for the community of Asian students on campus. Also according to Herrera, they have organized other cultural themes such as: De Los Muertos and women’s history month, as well as some seasonal ones like “roses and romance” for Valentine’s day and “pumpkin fest” for Halloween.
For most of the week, students are rushing between their classes and often find it hard to get involved with campus activities or events. Farmers market organizer Janice Barajas appreciates the engagement and sense of community the market creates at CSUN.
“I think it’s a super easy way for students to get involved on campus. It’s here every Tuesday, people can come hang out, eat lunch with their friends. It’s a nice community kind of thing,” said Barajas.
Theater major, Emily Gomez, has a similar outlook on the market. She feels that the market is an effective way to highlight CSUN’s highly diverse campus and appreciate the varying backgrounds and cultures.
“I really like the variety of food, and I really like how it feels like Valley culture on campus. There’s a lot of Latino food, sometimes there’s events and music. I was here for the Dia De Los Muertos [theme], and they had a mariachi band.”
According to the Associated Students webpage, the farmers market hosts over 15 local vendors each week. It’s hard to resist taking a moment to admire the hand-made items or food options when walking past the various tents. But more importantly, the CSUN farmers market is a way to show appreciation for students coming from diverse cultural backgrounds.
