If you wander over to Fresno State’s Gibson Farm Market, you’ll find the latest student-produced items for the fall season.
There are corn, varieties of squash and pumpkins — including the fall seasonal pumpkin-pie flavored ice cream.
“It’s a little bit [of a] more modern take on the traditional farm stand,” said Jeremy Lewis, farm market manager.
The market, founded in the mid-1980s, sells student-produced goods year-round, such as meat and dairy products, produce, wine, ice cream and canned goods.
“As we get closer to colder weather, we start to see a little bit of a shift more to the comfort foods,” Lewis said. The popular products include the famous Fresno State sweet corn, a hit with customers during the fall.
The sweet corn is usually a summer attraction. But the farm market grew an excess amount of corn, so customers could still enjoy it during September and October.
Geoffrey Thurner, communications specialist at the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, said the sweet corn craze earlier resulted in a line of about 200 people waiting outside of the store at as early as 5:30 a.m.
When corn became available to buy in June, Lewis said it was flying off the shelves by the bag full as customers began buying as much corn as they could carry.
Ruth Kwon, a transfer student and health care administration major at Fresno State said she considers the market corn to be the “best around town.”
“My parents and I would always have to rush here to make sure we got some,” Kwon said.
But the excitement for fresh produce extends to the market’s squash, pumpkins and green vegetables, Lewis said.
“If they’re [students] looking for a quick and easy recipe, that’s good comfort food. Try one of our salsas,” Lewis said. “Put it in the Crock-Pot with our chicken breast, and you can serve that over rice or you can make it into tacos.”
Purchases made at the Gibson market go toward Fresno State students, Lewis said.
Isaac Adame, a biology major and assistant at the Gibson market, gets his corn, grapes, meat and other produce there. He considers the items little-known secrets.
“I feel like if more people knew about this place, there would be hardly anything left on the shelves,” Adame said. “What they make here is really top tier.”
The market is also hosting its second annual Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 21. It will showcase its fall items and offer wine tasting and pumpkin carving.