On Thursday, April 7, from 3-11 local farmers, vendors and food trucks gathered outside in the parking lot of the Christian Cafeteria to promote and sell their products and food.
The event was held in partnership with SGA and Aramark.
Jim Nabors, general manager of Aramark at UCA Dining, said the students and vendors participating loved the event and he hopes to continue it as a tradition.
“This is the first time we’ve done this,” Nabors said, “and what a success. I’m so glad. I hope we just keep doing it.”
Among the local food trucks, Plant Kings stood out for its vegan-only meals. Denzel Harris explained that college students are usually drawn to the food truck because it is plant-based.
“It’s easier to get the word out that we have a vegan food truck when we go to colleges because college kids talk a lot,” Harris said.
Natalie Oswald from Mackey’s Catfish also said attending events like Green Grub will help promote their local food truck.
“Every single person that came today was a new customer,” Oswald said.
Aaliyah Bonner from Julie’s Sweet Shoppe said the event was such a success for the bakery, and they sold so many sweets someone had to bring them more.
Aside from the sweets and food sold, there were also crafts such as Coletti Lewis’ handmade jewelry.
Lewis has been in business since 1987. Her jewelry includes bracelets, rings, earrings and even keychains crocheted or decorated in beads.
“People are impressed,” Lewis said, “They’ve never seen this stuff before.”
Starting April 23, Lewis will be at the farmers market on Amity until October.
Kassity Pace, junior, is one of many UCA students that attended the Green Grub event. She said after COVID, it’s important that people come together to learn what the campus has to offer.
Junior Jude Ballbridge said that supporting local businesses is what he finds inspiring about the day.
“You see all the big names like Taco Bell, but there are so many different places in Conway to eat and so many different stores that you can go and support local people that live here,” Ballbridge said.
Junior honors college representative Audra Watts agreed that these events are all about bringing awareness to local vendors.
“I think a lot of college students would support more local businesses if they just knew they existed,” Watts said.
Tierra Williams from Gem House Fitness held a booth selling natural soaps and gems, with the intention of educating women on the importance of appreciating their bodies and the many changes it goes through over the years.
“Your skin is the most important organ of your body,” said Williams. “It’s not all about what you put in, it’s what you put on.”
Despite the wind, the Green Grub event helped local vendors sell more products than anticipated and spread the word about small businesses in Conway.
