Marina Gaytan / The Collegian

A standing sign welcomes customers as they enter the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market with a note that corn season is over and another crop will not be available until next summer.

Jennifer Sobieralski, enterprise product marketing and Gibson Farm Market manager, said in an e-mail interview that the Gibson Farm Market has seen more benefits from the high corn sales than just increased revenue. The overwhelming demand has generated plenty of publicity and a loyal following for the market, Sobieralski said.

“Sales for corn actually help the other products since it drives traffic and customers to pick up other items while they are in,” she said. “It also reinforces that our products are quality student-made products. We see a lot of new customers that never knew who we were and it reminds people to shop who have forgotten about us.”

Even though the corn is gone, Sobieralski said there are other items that should be a hit. She said fall crops will yield organic produce such as oranges, grapes, peaches and pumpkins from California State University, Fresno’s 950-acre farm.

Social work major and Gibson Farm Market employee, Elisa Chavez, said fresh produce from the farm gets brought in and stocked daily.

Marina Gaytan / The Collegian

Chavez said working at the Gibson Farm Market has made her more aware of how the Ag department operates, and allowed her to explore a different field.

“Now that I’m working here I get to see all the different items, like the ice cream and the vegetables that come in and out. It’s interesting how they grow it and bring it in,” she said.

Despite the publicity the Gibson Farm Market has received, some Fresno State students are still unaware that it exists, Chavez said. This led the initiative for the Student Dietetic Association to create the “Healthy Eating – Fresh from Our Farm” booth, which brings market products to campus as a way to promote the market, while also providing students with healthy food alternatives.

“We thought, we have the knowledge, we have the ability to educate students, faculty, and staff and why are we not doing anything about it?” said Student Dietetic Association farm market event coordinator, Ali Prathaftakis. “So we decided to put on our farmer’s market every Tuesday to help educate people and have nutrition awareness be more a part of their life.”

As coordinator, Prathaftakis goes to the Gibson Farm Market and chooses products she thinks students will want to purchase while also taking into account affordability.

Marina Gaytan / The Collegian

Prathaftakis works closely with Sobieralski to order the products that will be sold each week. The products offered vary depending on what is in season and what the club can afford.

Sobieralski said promotion from the on-campus booth has helped increase business for the Gibson Farm Market. The Student Dietetic Association suggests that students who visit the booth in the free speech area try visiting the main market for additional selections.

“It’s been really popular and people are wanting us to continue,” Prathaftakis said. “We have fresh produce available instead of candy bars and unhealthy snacks. Each year we’re getting better and better. We’re really learning how to perfect our little market here.”