Campus employees can enjoy vegetable plants, flower arrangements and Gibson Farm Market produce all without leaving their offices.

The Horticulture Nursery has a student-operated delivery program that allows faculty and staff to order from a weekly list of available farm-grown plants and goods, to be delivered to them on campus.

The program was created four years ago by Calliope Correia, a horticulture instructional support technician at the nursery. She wanted a new way to connect the nursery with employees and to help sell plants during the slow summer season. In its early years the program only sold vegetable plants for people to plant in their gardens, but later expanded to sell produce from the market along with flower arrangements Correia calls “Jars of Happiness.”

Correia coordinates the program with help from plant science students who grow and care for the plants. Students will pick and deliver seasonal flowers in bloom, so every week is a new surprise.

“The best part is that it’s 100 percent grown from the farm by the students,” Correia said. “The students learn here, grow the plants, then the plants are sold to faculty and staff so it all connects back to campus.”

During large growing seasons such as spring and fall, students make up to 30 deliveries per week, and even more around holidays or for large events.

Plants, flowers and produce vary by season. Corn, grapes, lavender plants, oregano and rosemary are available now. Prices vary and can be slightly higher than buying at the Gibson Farm Market to cover delivery costs.

Every Monday, the list of available goods is sent out by email to faculty and staff. Anyone wanting to buy must reply to the email by Wednesday with their name, location for delivery (including the building and room number) and any special instructions such as times you will not be in the office or where to leave the plants. Buyers will receive a confirmation email with an online link to pay for their orders.

All plants and produce will be delivered on Friday the week of the order. The “Jars of Happiness” will be delivered the following Monday. Faculty and staff can have “Jars of Happiness” delivered to colleagues with a note.

Not in the office this week? Orders can be picked up Friday afternoon or during the weekend at the Gibson Farm Market.

To be added to the list to place orders, send an email to horticulture@mail.fresnostate.edu.

For more information, contact Calliope Correia at 559.278.2952.

Students work in the Horticulture Nursery