Fresh food for a fresh start to the year

The Green Wave Community Market has been a Tulane University staple for the last two academic years, but now the students organizing the market say they hope the market will take on a bigger role than ever before.

“We want to make the market something that people can make part of their shopping routine,” says Claire Beauchamp, a Tulane senior and organizer of the event. She says, “We don"t want people to say, "Oh, there"s another market this weekend," but instead, "It"s time to pick up my vegetables for the week at the community market!"”

Beauchamp is a major in studio art and environmental science; she was inspired to create the Green Wave Community Market two years ago with other people she had met in social justice organizations on campus.

The market has an emphasis on sustainability, supplying the community with fresh food from reliable sources so students and community members don"t have to turn to commercial enterprises for their veggies.

“Sustainability is so important, and the market is a place where you can buy from the community and know where the food is coming from,” says Beauchamp. Her goal is to promote sustainable living and provide more options locally for community life and vending.

The market will now take place five times each semester so students and locals can regularly pick up fresh produce, peruse the art and listen to some live music.

There will be a variety of goods at the upcoming market, including vegan baked goods from the Tulane Healthy Veggie Club and sustainably grown houseplants in repurposed, vintage pots offered by New Orleans Green.

The Green Wave Community Market will take place on Sunday (Sept. 27) from noon until 3 p.m. at the Goldie and Morris Mintz Center for Jewish Life, 912 Broadway St., featuring these vendors and more. Future market days are Oct. 11, Oct. 25 and Nov. 15, with a special holiday market on Dec. 6.

Claire Davenport is a sophomore at Tulane University, majoring in English and political science.