Fresh City Market Donates to Purdue Student Farm

Fresh City Market has made a donation to Purdue's Student Farm to help student grows vegetables and herbs year-round and help further their educational efforts.

Representatives from Purdue said they will purchase a new hoop house (pictured above) with the donation.

“Fresh City Market already purchases fresh vegetables and herbs from the Purdue Student Farm, so we wanted to help these future growers,” said Jeff Maurer, co-owner of Fresh City Market. “A new hoop house will extend the growing season which means customers at Fresh City Market will see local, fresh grown vegetables and herbs longer.”

Run by the Full Circle Agriculture Student Group, the Student Farm enable undergrads to manage a living lab where they can learn about agriculture, business and research. Full Circle Agriculture uses the farm to promote agricultural initiatives with sustainability as well as social, economic and environmental consciousness.

A joint venture between Maurer and Grand Rapids, Mich.-based SpartanNash, Fresh City Market opened in August of this year with a 21,000-square-foot, fresh-focused grocery store featuring farm fresh meats, pork and poultry from Purdue’s The Butcher Block; organic, vegan and Asian product offerings including made-to-order sushi; grab-and-go healthy food options; as well as local and Indiana made products. The store employs nearly 110 people with 80 percent of employees associated with Purdue University.