Vanderbilt Campus Dining welcomes the return of the Rand Farmers Market on Wednesday, October 16, inviting the campus community to enjoy the sights, flavors and spirit of the fall season. This year’s market coincides with Vanderbilt’s hosting of the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative’s 12th Annual All-Member Meeting, a gathering of chefs, culinary experts, and higher education leaders focused on the future of sustainable dining on campus.
October 2025 Rand Farmers Market
Who: Open to all Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff
When: Thursday, October 16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Rand Patio
“The Rand Farmers Market is a wonderful tradition at Vanderbilt and one of our most popular special events on campus,” says Suzanne Herron, sustainability coordinator for Vanderbilt Campus Dining. “We are excited to feature local and regional offerings at our October market. Please join us in celebrating the fall.”
What is the Rand Farmers Market?
The Rand Farmers Market is a seasonal event hosted multiple times a year by Vanderbilt Campus Dining. Open to students, faculty and staff, the event features an assortment of locally sourced fruits and vegetables, small-batch local and regional specialty foods and product giveaways. Vanderbilt alum Hassan Sharaff, owner and operator of HydroHouse Farms, will be at the October market to share and connect with the community.
In an effort to remove barriers and encourage supporting local, Vanderbilt Campus Dining created a system so that students, faculty and staff can utilize their meal plans to shop at the market. Market attendees can also shop with credit cards at the Rand Farmers Market.
“The Rand Farmers Market is a wonderful way for the university to support sustainable agriculture while giving our campus community an innovative way to connect and engage with each other,” says Maria Portelli, senior director of operations.
Menus of Change University Research Collaborative & Vanderbilt University
With a longstanding commitment to sustainable dining practices, Vanderbilt Campus Dining is a proud member of the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative. Often referred to as MCURC, the organization is a global network dedicated to advancing healthier, sustainable food choices through university-led research, education, and collaboration across academics, dining and athletics.
One of the MCURC key principles is to encourage local sourcing as a vehicle for healthier, more sustainable and more delicious food; The Rand Farmers Market is only one of the many ways that Vanderbilt Campus Dining demonstrates a commitment to sustainable food systems.
MCURC Annual Meeting
As part of its annual meeting in Nashville, MCURC delegates from around the world plan to visit the Rand Farmers Market and experience how Vanderbilt is innovatively channeling local sourcing and sustainable consumption on campus.
“The Rand Farmers Market is a student favorite. I think because of the beautiful and fresh produce that is available. But it is so meaningful to me because it highlights the connection that humans have to farmers,” says Chef Brian Cochrane, director of culinary operations. “Our students enjoy that in a very tactile way on market days, but, in reality, they are enjoying it every day in Campus Dining food. We are very intentional about sourcing as much locally and regionally as we can to ensure freshness and to empower regional farming economies.”
Save the date
After the October 16 market, the next Rand Farmers Market will be on December 9. Visit the Campus Dining calendar for more information and other upcoming events.