Farmers market returns with more food options

The popular campus Farmers Market, which launched last summer after years of behind-the-scenes work by student organizers, has returned for the season with more vendors and a broader selection of goods.

“In the sustainable food movement, college students are really pushing hard — they’re real movers and shakers,” said Rory O’Dwyer of Langwater Farm in Easton, Mass., which grows and sells certified organic fruits, vegetables and flowers. “Since this is where the action is, this is where we want to be.”

The six vendors — up from two last year — will sell fresh fruits and vegetables, plus prepared foods like artisan breads, to the Northeastern community each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the market, located on Centennial Common between Ruggles Station and Ryder Hall. The market opened this week.

In addition to Langwater Farm, other local vendors this year are Swiss Bakers, Ward’s Berry Farm, Q’s Nuts, Heavens Harvest Farm and Marshall’s Fenway Farmstand.

“This year, we really wanted to focus on selection,” said Dylan O’Sullivan, one of the student organizers. “For example, a lot of people don’t have kitchens on campus, so we’re glad that this year we’re able to have food options that don’t require cooking or preparation, like breads and sandwiches ready to go.”

The Northeastern Farmers Market is sponsored by Student Affairs, the Progressive Student Association and Slow Food NU.

“This has been in the works for a couple of years and after our start last year, it’s really great to see this idea coming into full fruition,” said Zach Hanrahan, a student organizer from Slow Foods NU.

Also on Wednesdays, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Student Activities runs “Keepin’ It Cool,” an event that serves up ice cream and other treats like cotton candy on Centennial Common. It is part of the Summerster series, which include trips, outings and discounted tickets to sporting events and shows in and around Boston.