Cal State Monterey Bay’s on-campus farmers market will return later this semester with fewer events. The market traditionally occurs about 10 times over the semester, but faced cuts this semester due to an increase in insurance cost.
“There is a farmers market, it’s just not here yet. It’s coming soon, on April 10. We’ll have one on the 10, 17, 24 and May 1,” said Student Service Coordinator Natalie Gutierrez.
The event, which has been receiving increased attendance and interest, faced problems due to an increase in the cost of insurance for the event. The line item of $30,000 received a one-time funding increase of $5,000 from Associated Students in order to keep the event around.
“Farmers market funding increased recently as a result of an approved funding request. The reason for the increased costs this year is a hike in insurance rates, so we had to approve a one-time funding request to compensate,” said Associated Students Vice President of Finance Andrew Nino. “To the extent of my knowledge, we are not in danger of running out of farmers market funding this year but next year, the line will definitely need more allocated funds.” This increase in cost is a stumbling block for what has been a popular and well-loved event for students. “If anything, the fall semester had more attendance than last year’s market,” said Gutierrez.
Looking forward, Associated Students seems interested in helping the Farmer’s Market stay. A request for the $30,000 line item to be increased to $40,000 has already been discussed in a finance board meeting on Feb. 6.
“For the Farmers Market, I am requesting $40,000. The costs cover the vendor
contract, a county permit, vouchers, overtime costs for facilities, programming and
Supplies,” said Student Engagement and Leadership Development Office and Service Analyst Gloria Panuco Torres.
The upcoming farmers events will have more benefits for students. The market, which always has a theme or activity each week, has offered prize raffles and $10 vouchers in the past.
Now, thanks to a collaboration with the Associated Students Diversity and Inclusion Center, raffles and prizes for attendees will become more common. “There will be more vouchers and more prizes,” said Gutierrez. “We used to do [only] raffles certain times a year, now we can do raffles every week.”