The Campus Farmers’ Market will reopen for its second year in the Brickyard on Wednesday, Sept. 1. The farmers’ market is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is organized by students and offers produce from across North Carolina.

Ariel Fugate, a junior in fisheries and wildlife science, is a student organizer for the farmers’ market and said she this year’s market will have nine vendors.

“We were most successful last year in growing. We grew from four vendors last fall to nine vendors by the end of the year,” Fugate said. “This year we will have nine. Two [vendors from last year] cannot come this year, and two joined.”

Acknowledging the market has room to improve, Fugate said she wants to expand the market’s reach.

“[We need to] publicize the market to all different types of people. We have reached some departments, but not all,” Fugate said. “We are trying to involve everyone this year.”

Michelle Schroeder-Moreno, an assistant professor in crop science, is the faculty advisor for the Farmers’ Market. Schroeder-Moreno said she’s looking to get more agriculture clubs involved this year.

“There are a lot of agriculture clubs out there, we really need to work on connecting with them more,” Schroeder-Moreno said.

Schroeder-Moreno said the University’s alumni play an important role in the Farmers’ Market. One of these alumni, Gary Wise, graduated in 1993 with a degree in education.

“Gary was the first one here,” Schroeder-Moreno said. “He’s got a busy schedule, but he is committed to coming out here.”

Gary Wise said his connections to the University motivate him to sell produce on the Brickyard.

“I am a State person. I went to State, my brother-in-law works at State… and most of the people I know who work in agriculture went to State,” Wise said. “I wouldn’t have gone [to sell produce] to Carolina, and I wouldn’t have gone to Duke.”

Several students said they enjoyed last year’s event and plan to attend again.

Alice Sheehy, a junior in international studies and business, said she went to the farmers’ market last year because it was easy to get to.

“It’s great!” Alice said. “It’s very convenient.”

John Howell, a sophomore in computer engineering, said he did not shop at the farmers market much last year, but he plans to visit more often this year.

“Last year I had a meal plan. This year I’m doing a lot of cooking at my house,” Howell explained. “I like fresh food, and I don’t want to go to the grocery store where the stuff has been sitting out forever.”

Howell also said the farmers’ market reminds him of his home in western North Carolina.