Oxford Community Market Welcomes Spring and Launches “OXCM Goes to College” Campus Market
Oxford Community Market Kicks Off Spring Season
The arrival of April ushers in the spring growing season and this year, the Oxford Community Market (OXCM) treats the locals and visitors to its annual Spring Kick-Off Party. Held in the bustling ambience of the local farmer’s market, the event celebrates the beauty of spring with tender salad greens, bright red strawberries, live music, and jovial community interaction.
This year, the OXCM Spring Kick-Off is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 16th April from 3–6:30 pm at the Old Armory Pavilion located at 1801 University Avenue. This year holds an extra cause for celebration as OXCM marks its 11th successful year of serving the community as Oxford’s only year-round weekly farmers’ market.
A Milestone Year for OXCM
“Over the last decade, it’s been nothing short of remarkable to watch this market expand and grow,” said Betsy Chapman, OXCM Director. Throughout the years, OXCM has fostered a community based on the support for local farmers and the accessibility to healthy foods. Despite facing numerous challenges, it has thrived due to the concerted efforts of countless individuals, groups, and organizations.
OXCM’s Spring Kick-Off Highlights
The 2024 Spring Kick-Off is a public event and features an array of attractions like live music performances, cake giveaways from Velvet Ditch Confections, Chef at the Market sampling by Ole Miss Dining, children’s activities with baby goats from Flowering Tree Farm, and a wide variety of locally grown spring produce from food producers.
Brightening up the early spring shopping list are strawberries, lettuces, kale, spinach, collards, cabbages, spring onions, carrots, and broccoli, all freshly harvested and made available for the community to purchase and relish.
OXCM Goes to College
The celebrations continue with the “OXCM Goes to College” event on Thursday, 18th April from 10–2 pm on Business Row at the University of Mississippi. Initiated in partnership with the UM Office of Sustainability and Ole Miss Dining, the event acts as a fun, interactive platform for students, faculty, and staff to engage with their local farmers and gain more information about locally produced goods.
Farmstand Food Truck Project
There is also an exciting collaboration with Ole Miss Dining in the form of a Farmstand Food Truck project, a rotating lunch service featuring local chefs and farmers using locally sourced ingredients. Serving from Monday through Friday from 11 am–3 pm on Business Row, the initiative aims to expose the university community to local culinary delights.
The market will remain open every Tuesday throughout the year, from 3-6:30 pm at the Old Armory Pavilion. For more information about OXCM and their upcoming events, do not hesitate to visit www.oxfordcommunitymarket.com, follow their social media platforms, or contact the OXCM Director at 622-816-7413.
Tags:
AMy Fisher, betsy chapman, farmers market, firewood, flowering tree farm, lucas leigh, Mississippi, old armory pavilion, Ole Miss, Ole Miss Dining, oxcm Goes to College, Oxford, oxford community market, Ricky Burkhead, spring kickoff party, University of Mississippi, velvet ditch confections
