Farmers' market offers local produce

Along with textbooks and dorm supplies, some students picked up collards, chard and brandywine tomatoes on campus yesterday.

The produce was part of a new farmers' market located on 36th and Sansom streets, which offers pesto, Thai basil and rosemary among other food products. The market operates every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This week, the market featured only two tables of goods, but additional farmers regularly attend, and plans are in the works to expand the project.

Market coordinators say they hope for more student support as the school year gets underway.

"Support the market so we can get more products," urged Danny Gerber, co-director of the Penn-affiliated Urban Nutrition Initiative and a Class of 1996 College alumnus. "We could have a dairy farmer here -- we could have fresh bread."

UNI spearheaded the creation of the market. Since its creation, the market has joined a consortium of others around the city, run by a group called Farm to City.

The group works with West Philadelphia public schools to educate students about nutrition, in part by growing gardens on school property.

The collards at the local market are fresh from University City High School on 36th and Filbert streets.

But while that may not be the most obviously appetizing selling point, the vendors at this market are proud of their goods.

"These are the best collards in Philadelphia," said Jade Walker, middle school garden coordinator for UNI. "They really are. I would challenge anyone."

And the gastronomical rewards are not the only gain from the market.

"It's truly mutually beneficial," said Ira Harkavy, associate vice president and director of Penn's Center for Community Partnerships. "It illustrates the extraordinary accomplishments [that are possible] when students and community members work together to improve the health and nutrition of the community."

Amelia Cliett, a 2004 University City High School graduate and farmers' market intern, echoes Harkavy's notion that this market does more than sell food.

"I feel I have gained a lot of farming experience and also a knowledge of ... where my food comes from," Cliett said.

And customers agree.

"I think it's great to support community, local agriculture," market patron John Smith said.

As he purchased his collards, he added, "I'm just going to cook it up, probably saute it with garlic and olive oil."

The school garden at U-City High was rated the best schoolyard garden in the city this year by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

Half of the profits from the produce sales go back into maintaining the garden, while the rest is split between students and Farm to City.

UNI runs a similar farmers' market each Saturday on 36th and Powelton streets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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