Changes Are Many But Market Opens Saturday!

There is nothing that sings Michigan Spring like that first trip to a Farmer’s Market and one of the best around according to the staff of N3 World Headquarters and Sequestration Center is the one that takes place in our Metro friend to the west, Muskegon.

This year, of course, everything is different. The pandemic has created the need to modify how we interact with each other, how we do our day to day business and of course, how we shop.
We don’t mean as in buying up all the hand sanitizer we can get our hands on, emptying the shelves of yeast and flour or stocking enough material to TP an entire neighborhood (is meat destined to be the new toilet paper?), we’re talking about guidelines for interacting in a retail setting...even those that take place outside.
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The folks from the  Muskegon Farmers Market posted the following missive as a way of giving people a bit of a heads up on what to expect and what not to expect (we will seriously miss the music and entertainment) and we hope marketgoers will heed their recommendations and enjoy the appealing atmosphere an outdoor market creates...even if enjoyed 6 feet apart with masks in place.-N3
 
 The outdoor market will be opening on May 2nd from 8 am to 2 pm. The outdoor market will be open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from May 2nd through November 30th.

The market will have a different look and feel this year. Music and entertainment have been eliminated along with picnic tables. Face masks will be highly encouraged of all visitors and social distancing will be required. Crafters will not be at the market at this time. Farmers, bakers, and other food items along with vendors selling plants and flowers will be available along with cloth masks for purchase. Aisle-ways will be divided with one-way traffic and limited access points. Volunteers will be monitoring each end of the aisles to count the number of people allowed at a time.

Food trucks will be required to have food completely packaged to-go and will not be providing utensils. Shoppers may point to the items they want to purchase and the vendors will bag those items. Vendors will be required to wear masks and gloves. Again, shoppers are highly encouraged to wear masks at the market. Most of the popular fruits are not yet in season, but shoppers will find plenty of flowers, meats, cheeses, vegetables like lettuce and potatoes, along with honey, and bakery items this Saturday with approximately 40 vendors on-hand.

This year the Power of Produce program for children has been canceled. It is hoped that the program can be offered again next year, but for the safety of our little ones, we prefer children be left at home whenever possible.

To allow as many families to take advantage of the market as possible, we ask shoppers to limit the number of people in their family shopping so we may accommodate more families. This is the opening day of the market so we ask for your patience and understanding as we learn the ins and outs and make changes as we go.

We know this is a trying time for many families. The farmers market will continue to be there to support you. Most fundraising activities will be eliminated this year. People and companies in a financial position to be able to sponsor the market are encouraged to become a Friend of the Market. The program offers many different levels and benefits to meet all budgets. To become a friend of the market, visit www.muskegonfarmersmarket.com.
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The market is now accepting applications for Tuesday and Thursday market days. While there is a waiting list for Saturday’s market, we are currently accepting applications from farmers selling their own fresh produce to join our Saturday market. For more information, please visit our website or call 231-722-3251.