Article by Freelancer Kayla Blietz
Hundreds of students and members of the University of Maryland community filled Tawes Plaza for the reopening of the University of Maryland Farmers Market on Wednesday.
The Farmers Market is now reopening for their spring season which runs between April 5 to May 10, according to the Farmers Market home page. The market features a variety of local vendors and farmers who operate within 250 miles of College Park,
One of the vendors at the market is Mel’s Munchies run by the company’s owner and chef Melanie Parker. Parker has been coming to the market for a couple of years and has experience in the business for over 20 years.
“[The UMD Farmers Market is] one of my favorite farmers markets because there are a lot of different students here. Each year I develop different customers they would come back and we kind of develop a relationship,” said Parker.
Parker makes sorbets, ice cream, cakes, bread and more. Her background is in classical French training from L’Academie de Cuisine.
Another vendor at the farmer’s market is Kaelyn Knits, founded by Kaelyn Roney, a sophomore government and politics major. Roney started Kaelyn Knits during the pandemic because she knew how to knit and really needed something to do. She began to sell to her friends and then started to sell online on an Etsy page. Roney sells bucket hats, tote bags and bucket hats for cats, which are the highest-selling item on her Etsy page.
“I love this farmers market and so now I just wanted to show the other students in my community what I can do,” said Roney.
Justine Suegay, a Master’s student in the Student Affairs program, enjoys attending the farmers market with her office to bond in the sun and fresh air. Suegay enjoys supporting The Caramel Kettle and the Little Boy Bakery with her team.
“I like how there are so many things here, [many] opportunities for fresh produce, popcorn, baked goods and thrifting pop-ups… So I think that it’s a good range,” said Suegay.
Suegay’s favorite vendor is Little Boy Bakery because the owner is very welcoming and gets to know his customers. She enjoys that personal experience and that he remembers the office’s favorites.
The first farmers market of the spring semester was a great time to take advantage of the sunny weather. For anyone who didn’t get a chance to attend, the farmers market will be open on Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. through May 10.