October 08, 2009

Pomegranate jelly – a new product developed by students – is available at the newly named Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market at Fresno State.

The jelly is one of several products developed by the students in a Food Systems Management class that is taught by Dr. Dennis Ferris, professor of food science and nutrition. Every year, food processing students develop recipes and new products and conduct customer surveys at the Farm Market.

“Students have been very creative this year developing more than 10 unique products,” Ferris said. “A few other exciting products that students have cooked up include flavored popcorn, dried pasta and bread crumb toppings.”

The Farm Market carries jams, jellies and salsa created by students over the years at the Food Processing Laboratory, which is one of the more than 25 farm enterprises under the University Agricultural Laboratory on 1,000 acres northeast of the campus.

A 10.5 oz jar of the new jelly will sell for $4.50 but as part of their project, students will monitor market response and consumer preferences and determine a final price point based on supply and demand. Based on this study students will decide whether the product will be featured on the Farm Market shelves in the future.

A tasting of the new jelly was held March 12.

“This is another example of the Farm Market serving as a learning laboratory for our students to gain insight into product development and marketing in addition to being a retail outlet for student-produced farm products,” said Dr. Ganesan Srinivasan, director of the University Agricultural Laboratory, who oversees more than a dozen student enterprises that supply the market.

Farm Market proceeds help strengthen teaching and research programs in the university’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.

The Farm Market, at the corner of Barstow and Chestnut avenues, is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sundays. For additional information, call at 559.278.4511.