Concord Magnet School's annual produce market held outdoors on new campus

The school's first-graders host the market each year. They purchase fruits and vegetables from local farmers.

Apr 3, 2023, 4:55 PM

Updated 558 days ago

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Concord Magnet School in Norwalk is holding its annual produce market at its new courtyard this year after relocating to the Ponus Ridge Middle School campus in August.
The new location means the market is taking place outside for the first time in school history.
"In the old building in south Norwalk, we used to have it indoors," principal Medard Thomas said. "The weather cooperated [this year], and so it's perfect."
The school's first-graders host the market each year. They purchase fruits and vegetables from local farmers.
"The kids sell the produce to everyone here," Thomas explained. "It goes right back to the school, and we use it to fund things that we need here at the school."
The first-graders' roles include sellers, baggers, cashiers and talliers. They rotate positions over the course of the weeklong event.
Students say they're learning about so much more than the importance of healthy eating.
"I like to give money back because it's nice," student Kelly Brooks said.
"It really is a study, you see kids doing math," Thomas added. "The kids are learning how to work with each other…This is months in the making."