Browse your local farmers market, and you might not expect to walk away with a pair of earrings made with hot pink Barbie shoes.
But at the University of Pittsburgh’s newly rebranded Public Market, students, faculty and community members can buy everything from fresh tomatoes and sandwiches to homemade jewelry crafted from tiny, plastic heels.
The outdoor market kicked off its 10th year on Thursday with a twist: Formerly known as the Pitt Farmers’ Market, the gathering has now been relaunched as the Pitt Public Market.
The rebrand reflects a shift that has occurred in the market over the years, said Sandy Barsotti, director of marketing and communications for Pitt’s business, hospitality and auxiliary services division. Gradually, the market evolved from selling primarily produce to offering a wide variety of prepared foods, baked goods and handmade items, in addition to fruits and veggies.
But the market’s mission hasn’t changed: It aims to give students “something different” to look forward to each week while supporting local businesses. Each vendor is from the Pittsburgh area.
Pitt officials estimate that the weekly market has poured $400,000 into the local economy.
“[Pitt] wants to help grow the local communities,” Ms. Barsotti said. “We want to be a good partner to our neighboring communities.”
Pitt connections run deep for some vendors
Thursday afternoon, a steady stream of students sauntered around the market in 90-degree heat. About 15 vendors sold ice pops, Venezuelan empanadas, homemade soaps and more under tents outside of the William Pitt Union.
Many of those vendors aren’t strangers to Pitt. Zhelyazko “Jak” Latinov, who sold Bulgarian baked goods at the market with his bakery, worked as a baker in one of Pitt’s dining halls during his first few years in America.
Jewelry saleswoman Bekki Weber, meanwhile, earned her degree from Pitt in 2012. Ms. Weber repurposes toys and trinkets to make earrings through her business, weirdlittleearrings, which is based out of her home in West View.
This is the second year that Ms. Weber has sold jewelry at the market. Unique pieces at her stand on Thursday included Conversation Heart studs, pencil sharpener dangle earrings, and a mismatched “beer pong” set that featured a ping pong ball earring for one ear and a mini Red solo cup for the other.
“This is exactly my age demographic,” Ms. Weber said. “...It’s great for the students to have something fun to come down to every week.”
A few stands down, fellow Pitt grad Kyle Rozycki sold cheesecakes made from scratch with his Millvale-based bakery, Kyle’s Cakes N’at.
Mr. Rozycki said college students are ideal cheesecake customers. He lauded Pitt for allowing students to convert their dining dollars into spendable money at the market.
“When I went here, I didn’t have that option,” said Mr. Rozycki, who graduated in 2017. “I would have loved to have been able to come to a farmers market and trade a meal swipe for fresh produce or dessert.”
’Cool opportunity’ and access to good food
Vendors change week by week, though some are regulars at the market. That means students can routinely stop by the gathering and expect something different each time.
“I think it's a really cool opportunity that these companies come to us so we can have access to them,” said freshman Callie Dreibelbis.
Ms. Dreibelbis, who purchased roll-on perfume at the market, attended the event with a group of freshmen. Fellow freshman Michael Wylie bought a lemonade.
Mr. Wylie believes the market offers a perfect opportunity to support smaller businesses. Events like this also make Pitt “feel alive,” he said.
“Campus feels very alive,” Mr. Wylie said. “Everyone who is here at Pitt really does enjoy being here. That makes it better when you go out and see people hanging out.”
Perusing the market is a tradition for senior Marin Catino, who made a special trip to attend the first market of the fall semester. Ms. Catino bought edible cookie dough.
The market is a “welcoming environment for students,” Ms. Catino said. And it allows students to stock up on produce and other foods for the week.
“It’s really difficult to get good food here, so to have a market like this at least once a week provides more access to some of these foods that you would have to travel to go get at a grocery store or go out of your way to find at another location,” Ms. Catino said.
First Published: August 31, 2024, 9:30 a.m.
