While many area events and series have been canceled due to health precautions, being deemed an essential business has enabled the Farmers Market to continue as it is a source for fresh local foods and for vendors to sell their goods.
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“It was important we can continue but with a number of safety measures in place,” said Camaren Sloan, events manager for the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, which presents the Farmers Market. “We’re doing everything we can to keep it a safe experience for everybody.”
The experience will be somewhat different. There will be 15 vendors opposed to up to 35 and there will be no food trucks, demonstrations, samples or live music at this time. Sloan said that the CVB will be watching and evaluating bringing these attractions back as well as additional vendors at a later date.
“I always say this is such a social event, those are a crucial part of the experience. We really hope we can have these return,” Sloan said.
Event organizers worked with USDA and Farmers Market Coalition guidelines and consulted with the Clark County Combined Health District.
The vendors will be spaced out to ensure social distancing and they will be required to wear masks. There will also be sanitization booths with hand sanitizer available.
Attendees aren’t required to wear masks but it is suggested they wear them. The will also be expected to be respectful of social distancing guidelines and not linger. It is also required that attendees not handle any of the products before purchase, only the vendors.
Full guidelines and the vendors attending are available on the Springfield Farmers Market Facebook page.
While food trucks won’t be available, Sloan suggests having various restaurants now open at the neighboring CO Hatch can complement their absence.
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Serving people who participate in EBT and WIC programs can also continue during the Farmers Market.
The Farmers Market will continue each Saturday through September. Sloan said the organizers will also evaluate if they can sponsor the special MarketFEST event that takes the Saturday experience to a different level by offering it on a weeknight with different attractions.
Sloan is also encouraged by the reception of sponsorship and new sponsors, with Mercy Health - Springfield being the presenting sponsor for 2020.
“Being able to present the Farmers Market is such a positive note, it’s such an important thing for people even if it will be a little different and we can go from there,” she said.
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