Food Day 2019

Food Day Festival and Farmer’s Market

 

At the 2019 Food Day Festival in October students and faculty shopped with a variety of local vendors and farmers from the North Mississippi area, learned about issues like sustainable agriculture and food insecurity, meet on campus food and wellness groups, and sampled some of the great food Mississippi has to offer!

 

Check out some of the awesome vendors who participated:

 

Oxford Community Market- Oxford Community Market sets up at the Old Armory Pavilion every Tuesday from 3-6:30, offering a space to buy fresh products from local farms and socialize with others from the community! More than just a market, OXCM brings members of the LOU community together through a love of food, local music, yoga on the lawn, and potluck events. When visiting the market, you’re sure to encounter spectacular locally grown produce you’ve never seen before… like Romanesco broccoli! To keep up to date with events, follow @oxcm on Instagram.

UM Food Bank- The UM Food Bank is a student run organization created to combat food insecurity by providing nourishing food to students, faculty, and staff free of cost. One fun fact is that the Food Bank is a part of a circular system. Food that expires before it is used is composted on campus with the help of the Office of Sustainability; this compost is used to fertilize both the UM garden and Willie Price garden, which then donate produce to the food bank! Check out their great work on Instagram @umfoodbank.

RebelWell- RebelWell is wellness program focused on the university as well as community, dedicated to encouraging not only healthy bodies through exercise and movement, but also healthy minds and spirits. Click here to find out how you can stay updated on events, such as Yoga in the Gallery.

Yokna Bottoms Farms- Yokna Bottoms Farms is a certified naturally grown farm located in Oxford. Founded by a University of Mississippi professor in 2009, Yokna has been a leader for sustainable agriculture in Oxford. Visit Yokna on Tuesdays at the Old Armory Pavilion to try some of their wide variety of seasonal summer peppers and get tips about seasonal cooking! Learn more here.

Oxsicles- Lauren Klimetz, owner of Oxsicles, makes delicious popsicles made with what she calls “real food.” Oxsicles incorporates fruits and vegetables, contain no preservatives, and flavors change with the seasons as Lauren uses seasonal (and local!) ingredients whenever possible. Follow @oxsicles on Instagram and look out for fun flavors like pickle pops, frappuccino, honeydew jalapeno, and even popsicles for your dogs.

Mardis Honey- Karen and Andrew Lafferty run an apiary (beehive farm!) in Taylor, MS. With help from hardworking hives, the Lafferty’s sell 100% pure and raw honey to local customers. High in quality and delicious in taste, Mardis Honey can be found at many restaurants and coffee shops in Oxford.

Delta Grind Grits- Now a staple in many restaurants and fine dining across Mississippi, Delta Grind is a family owned business producing high quality stone ground grits. Follow @deltagrind on Instagram for pictures that make your mouth water and expand your imagination about the versatility of grits.

Garden Club- Started in 2015, the UM Garden Club is a student run club with a vibrant garden next to RC south on campus. The  garden club teaches students how to garden and gives them a space to experiment in addition to donating their yield to the UM foodbank to combat food insecurity. One of the favorite saying of members is “Kale Yeah Yam Right!” @umgardenclub