The Central Valley’s favorite summer food, Fresno State sweet corn, returns to the Gibson Farm Market (5368 N. Chestnut Ave.) at 8 a.m. Friday, May 24.
Shoppers can buy yellow corn for 75 cents per ear. Sweet corn is one of over 100 fresh, student-produced goods from the adjacent 1,000-acre University Agricultural Laboratory, one of the nation’s largest on-campus farms.
Two mobile purchase stations outside the north side of the market will accommodate opening day customers who want to purchase pre-bagged corn in quantities of 10 ears for $10, while supplies last.
The first of 68 acres of sweet corn this year was planted on campus on Jan. 12. Additional blocks have been planted since to supply the market through the end of August.
The history of campus sweet corn dates back to 1981, when a faculty member and students planted a test project on campus. In 1982, it was sold for the first time at a smaller farm stand on the corner of Chestnut and Barstow avenues, before the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology celebrated the completion of the Gibson Farm Market in 2013.
The market will extend its summer hours to a seven-day schedule starting May 24 through the end of August. Daily hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.
Other current produce includes apricots, cucumbers, green beans, nectarines, oranges, peaches and squash.
Watermelons, peppers and tomatoes are expected to arrive in early to mid-June, and other commodities like table grapes will follow in July.
The Fresno State Winery is featuring two Chardonnay white wines that are 20% off through the end of June. Both vintages pair well with sweet corn and are made with grapes from award-winning vineyards in Lodi and Santa Maria.
The campus creamery has added a new flavor of ice cream, black walnut, to go along with the return of summer favorites peach and black cherry. The 20 current flavors are made from campus dairy milk at the campus creamery.
TimeOut Roast coffee is available in whole bean and ground formats in medium, medium smooth, medium heavy and decaffeinated flavors. The coffee is blended by students and locally roasted.
Food science and nutrition staff will offer baked, fresh products and to-go meal items like cucumber salad, strawberry bread, zucchini bread and more items featuring ingredients from the campus farm. A new, hand-squeezed lemonade is available in the refrigerated section.
Sunflowers and mixed flower bundles are also available.
Fresno State’s live mascot Victor E. Bulldog IV will welcome customers from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m., and the Fresno State Alumni Association will share promotional items with alumni who check in at the information table.
Daily supplies can vary, and customers can call 559.278.4511 for updates on produce availability or check the farm market’s Instagram and Facebook accounts.
