AUSTINTOWN — The Austintown Farmers Market will begin its seventh season this month with a few changes to assure vendor and customer safety and social distancing.
“We’ve made it this far in really a grassroots effort in building this market with very little outside money to support and sustain us,” Shannon Lehn, market manager, said. “I felt it was really important to have it this year.”
The Farmers Market, held weekly on Mondays in Austintown Township Park starting in June, will be a drive-thru market until further notice, with customers able to order and prepay before arriving. Customers also will be able to order directly from vendors in booths, but will not be permitted out of their cars. Vendors will be required to wear masks.
A “dry run” of the new market style will take place 5 to 8 p.m. May 18.
“We can’t say it’s going to be contact-free, but we’re doing everything we can to minimize the contact as much as we can to keep everybody safe,” Lehn said.
A Mother’s Day farmers market was canceled over concerns about social distancing and safety.
The Austintown Farmers Market usually draws a crowd of several hundred people. It generally features live music, yoga and special events such as cooking demonstrations.
“Our market, if I could use one word to explain it, is community. People come and they hang out,” Lehn said, noting that won’t be the case this year.
Last year, the market had 22 to 32 vendors each week. Lehn said that number may be lower this year, as planning got a later start as Lehn waited for guidance on how to proceed.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture sent a letter to farmers market managers outlining requirements for operating. Under Gov. Mike DeWine’s April 2 stay-at-home order, farmers markets are considered essential.
Markets must operate with six-foot distancing between people, have hand sanitizer readily accessible, and may designate operating hours for vulnerable populations, according to the letter.
Lehn asked that everyone be patient as the market works out the new drive-thru system.
“We appreciate your understanding and cooperation while we all adjust to what we hope are short-lived, temporary changes to keep everybody safe,” Lehn said.
avugrincic@tribtoday.com
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May 03, 2020 at 11:06AM
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