Under the darkening storm clouds, students, faculty, and community members filled Trinity Lawn and The Gauntlet with colorful tents and decorated booths, featuring an assortment of goods, from handcrafted jewelry to mushroom medicine to fresh, locally grown strawberries, for The Blossom Market.

Throughout the market, music filled the walkway, vocals and guitar mixed with the residual chatter from market-goers. The market was organized by Associated Students and took place Monday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A.S. approached organizer Lucia Mercado, who brings the beloved Lunar Markets to life, to coordinate an on-campus market experience for students and the community. Mercado is a Chico State alumnus who owns and operates Lunar Market Chico and Divine Sundays Festivals.

“Reaching the student population and being right here in front of them is really helpful,” Mercado said. 

A.S. sponsored free booths for student vendors, providing a rare opportunity for creative and business-oriented students to try their hand at vending.  A.S. were able to give 12 student vendors free booths, Mercado said. 

Hannah Oberdorf, a sophomore business entrepreneurship major, hosted her first booth, selling intricate pressed nail sets. “I work in the dining hall and I saw an ad for the student vendors and I thought I’d give it a try.” 

From a booth in the back corner next to the science building, market manager for the North Valley Food Hub, Joey Haney, called out for passersby to guess the weight of a basket of blueberries and strawberries. North Valley Food Hub is a part of Chico State’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems. 

Its mission is to get local produce into local institutions, especially public schools. “We live where they grow it, mind as well source it locally,” Haney said while showing off the flats of fresh berries. The North Valley Food Hub supplies A.S. dining with produce.

“You probably get more local fruits and vegetables at the EJ dining hall than you are at a fancy restaurant in town,” he said. 

The Blossom Market was a beautiful display of coordination that brought students and seasoned vendors together to make a rainy day a little brighter. 

Caden Huntley can be reached at [email protected]