March 29, 2024

Prairie City Farmers' Market opens Thursday

Social distancing measures in place for event

The calendar has turned to June and with it is the start of farmers’ market season. The Prairie City Farmers’ Market is back, although modified, to serve up farm fresh goods from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. every Thursday from June 4 to Sept. 24 in Garden Square Park.

As the last few months have passed, organizer Kirsten Weiland wasn’t even sure if the seasonal market would get to take place due to the pandemic. After getting the go ahead from the governor, she started to look at how the market would look among the regulations.

“I have scaled back on market prep time this year as things have been so uncertain,” Weiland said. “I have been following the governor’s proclamations that involve farmers markets, following communications from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and have attended a few other area markets to see how they were operating.”

Working locally, Weiland met with city officials including the mayor, chief of police and the public works department to discuss details of the market. She also has reached out to vendors who will be attending the market to establish guidelines that comply with required measures.

“We are still working out specific details, but we will be adhering to the suggested social distancing guidelines,” Weiland said.

Those guidelines state:

• Having vendors at least six feet apart

• Masks are required for vendors, highly suggested and encouraged for attendees

• Hand sanitizer is suggested to be at each vendor table

• A hand sanitizer station will be available

• As of now, only vendors selling the approved items under the food and farm product rule will be allowed.

• As of now, no community yoga, library programs, events or giveaways by the Prairie City Business Association

“We are encouraging a Shop n Go market, while we would love to gather and visit and enjoy community time, we are unable to do so at this time,” Weiland said. “We are asking that individuals and families not use the benches or picnic tables at the park during market hours, to discourage group gathering.”

Currently, restrictions will affect the number of vendors allowed at the market but 10 applications have been received, Weiland said. When the governor expands the items that can be sold, additional vendors will be allowed to set up.

“I am hopeful that our community members who have supported the market in years past will continue to support our vendors now,” Weiland said. “By offering food, produce and farm products locally, it helps support our growers and producers while eliminating the need for extra stops along the supply chain.”

To help keep the market successful, Weiland asks that those who attend adhere to the social distancing guidelines and are respectful of everyone in attenuation. Also, for now, she is asking that only one individual from a family attend the market.

For more information about the Prairie City Farmers’ Market, visit its page on Facebook.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com