With COVID-19 restrictions in place, the Garfield Park Farmers Market opened its 2020 season on Saturday. The annually growing market will continue in the southeast corner of Garfield Park through October. Hours are 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
With a food-focused effort in mind – offering essential grocery items only – the market has established COVID-19 protocols as recommended by the Marion County Public Health Department. As a result, there will be no food trucks, home-based items, craft items at the market until the restrictions are lifted.
All food sold should be pre-packaged in a licensed facility and labeled according to federal guidelines. Market organizers have encouraged produce vendors to pre-package as much as possible. Pet food and personal hygiene products are allowed.
“To keep everyone as safe as possible, we need to eliminate some of the aspects of our market that give our customers and vendors the opportunity to socialize,” market organizers posted on their website. “We will resume these community engagement activations as soon as it is safe to do so.”
As a result, there will be no music, no “community partner” booths, no pets, no kids tent and no ready-to-eat hot foods. No food or beverage can be consumed on site by customers.
Vendors and customers are strongly encouraged to use common sense and social distancing when shopping at the market. It is recommended that shoppers bring masks and gloves. Social distancing guidelines will be marked in front of vendors.
Customers are also encouraged to pre-order and pre-pay with individual vendors as much as possible. For other guidelines, see the website at garfieldparkfarmersmarket.com.
In light of recent events, the market’s Board of Directors has waived all vendor fees, with the exception of the deposit. The 2020 list of vendors includes:
Mad Farmer’s Collective, Metta Gardens, Moon Root Apothecary, Mother Noble, Mrs. Murry’s Naturals, My Dad’s Sweetcorn, Native Bread, Old Major Market, Pet Lovers Organic Bakery, Plate It Up! Catering, Primal Delights Kombucha, River West Coffee and Tea Truck, Rooted Arcadia, Say It Ain’t Salsa, Second Breakfast Ranch, The Royal Frenchmen Tea Co., Trailhead Naturals, Treats by Fee, 4 Birds Bakery, Arnold Farms, Bee Coffee Roasters, Biltz Produce, Body Eclectic Skincare, BooYah! Shrubs, Chef Bricker’s Brick House Vinaigrettes, Dragonwood Honey and Maple, Ecologico, Flying Dirt Farm, General American Donut Co., Grace and Truth Farm, Herbal Kindness, Heritage Meadows Farm, KG Acres Farm and Featherworks and Lick Ice Cream.
For a list of vendors scheduled each week, subscribe to the Garfield Park Farmers Market newsletter at garfieldparkfarmersmarket.com.
PHOTO ABOVE: The Garfield Park Farmers Market can be found at the southeast corner of the park just south of the Conservatory. Photo by Kelly Jordan
