Meet WSU athletes, try Cosmic Crisp® apples and student-made products at Friday markets
PULLMAN, Wash. — Campus visitors can meet Washington State University athletes and Butch T. Cougar while sampling award-winning Cosmic Crisp® apples, Ferdinand’s ice cream, and other student-made products at two upcoming Harvest Markets.
Taking place on back-to-back Fridays this fall, each market will feature students, scientists, and nutrition experts passionate about food and agriculture. Admission is free for all.
“How many tailgaters know that WSU bred the Cosmic Crisp® apple, raises its own honey and organic produce, or trains students to help athletes perform their very best?” said Lindsay Brown, market organizer and Associate Director of Athletics for Performance Nutrition and Student-Athlete Dining. “The Harvest Markets are a way to show how WSU supports Washington agriculture and student athletes, and to enjoy the amazing foods and products that are the outcome.”
The first Harvest Market is 4-6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, the day before the Arizona home football game. Originally planned to take place at Mooberry Track and Field, this market will move indoors to the Hollingbery Fieldhouse in case of inclement weather. Rain and wind may preclude a planned Friday appearance of the Cosmic Crisp® hot air balloon, but smaller inflatable attractions may be on display in the field house.
The second market, titled the Ag Innovation Harvest Market, 4-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, is part of fall Family Weekend and takes place the day before the Fresno State home football game and the first Ag Innovation Day. It will be held at Mooberry Track and Field.
Market participants include Cougar men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, and women’s soccer teams; WSU Food Science Club offering Ferdinand’s ice cream; WSU tree fruit research and Extension faculty and ag-industry members offering apples; WSU Eggert Family Organic Farm students with their fresh produce; the Horticulture Club; members of the Department of Entomology offering honey made by WSU bees; members of the Department of Apparel Merchandising, Design, and Textiles showcasing student-made apparel creations, among others.
“Every booth at the Harvest Market tells a story,” said Raj Khosla, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. “Each product was developed to help solve a challenge, train a future graduate, or help improve our state’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity. Come and taste the ingenuity of our land-grant mission.”
Showcasing Washington agriculture, the Oct. 2 Ag Innovation Market will feature the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, Northwest Cherries, USA Pears, the Washington Grain Commission, Dairy West, AgWest Farm Credit Services, Fay Ranches, Adams Tractor, and the Washington State Potato Commission, which will offer free French fry samples.
Both markets will include free Cosmic Crisp® apples. Known for its juicy, sweet-tart flavor and crisp snap, this apple was selected against thousands of others to provide a superior fruit for Washington growers. Sales of Cosmic Crisp® support WSU research and apple breeding.
Weather permitting, Sept. 25 may mark the Cosmic Crisp® hot air balloon‘s fourth annual visit to the Pullman campus.
“We’ve been all over the world with this balloon,” said pilot Steve Wilkinson. “Everywhere we land, it’s a hit. Cougar fans come up to us constantly and tell us they love it. Families take their Christmas photos with it.”
Wilkinson plans to fly the craft over Pullman during the weekend.
WSU mascot Butch T. Cougar will attend both markets from 4 to 5 p.m.
• Contact: Seth Truscott, College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences, 509-335-8164, struscott@wsu.edu
Lindsay Brown, Associate Director of Athletics for Performance Nutrition and Student-Athlete Dining, lindsay.brown@wsu.edu