Chaffey Hosts Inaugural Farmers Market

When Alexis Velasquez heard that Sweet Dough Cinna-Rolls was coming to Chaffey College to sell its sweet treats, her mother asked her to grab one to go.

The Redlands company was one of 12 vendors participating in Chaffey’s first Heritage Farmers Market on Sept. 1 at the Rancho Cucamonga campus. Vendors sold a wide variety of food, including kettle corn, tamales, fruits, vegetables and more.

“I just love farmers markets because it’s great to support small businesses, and it’s great for students to come and shop,” said Velasquez, a communication studies major.

Chaffey originally partnered with Heritage during the pandemic to deliver bags of produce to students at home, said Panther Care Coordinator Prentice Harris.

“We wanted to give the campus an opportunity to get locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables and introduce health eating habits to our students,” he said.

Farmers saw a steady line of customers wanting strawberries, mangoes, tomatoes and apples. So did Pomona-based Coffee by Sergio, who served up fruit jars filled with decadent drinks.

“The iced coffee is really good. It beats Starbucks,” said Christopher Cormier, kinesiology major.

Marijane Chuang, owner of the Chino Valley company Pet Wants, said she’s never vended on a college campus before, but had high hopes of success at Chaffey. Her company sells various pet food products.

“I’m assuming a lot of college students are pet parents, especially with the rise of adoptions during COVID,” she said.

Chaffey hopes to eventually expand the event to the Chino and Fontana campuses.