Ode to Farmers' Markets

4/19/2020

I’m feeling very thankful for the farmers’ markets right now, and appreciating how much they feed us, not just in fresh local food, but in connections as well. As people are wary of grocery stores and cooking more at home—and are longing for connection-- farmers’ markets are more important than ever right now. Unfortunately, we do need to make some adjustments to keep markets safe and healthy spaces.

The Franklin County Farmers’ Market just had its first weekly market of the season, run entirely through online preorders and delivery to customers’ cars (it will operate this way at least through May 9). It was surreal chatting with our fellow vendors behind masks, and we really missed the customer interaction that we look forward to every week, catching up with regulars and getting to know newcomers through shared excitement over fresh food. These distancing measures have brought out how important community is to the farmers’ market experience. While it feels like we’re missing that community right now, I think we just need to find creative ways to connect with each other. We miss seeing our regular customers smile when they see we’ve brought something new to market and hearing what they made with our produce last week, but I’m trying to remember that we are still interacting with each other when placing and receiving orders, lovingly harvesting and packing herbs and vegetables, and enthusiastically cooking with that produce. We’ll get through this chaotic and uncertain time, supporting each other the best we can, and we'll appreciate the smiles and conversations all the more on the other side!

We’re excited to be joining another community this week at the Chevy Chase Farmers' Market at the Apostles Anglican Church, 200 Colony Boulevard in Lexington! We were a one-time vendor last year, and it was a great little market! We’re looking forward to being there each Wednesday this season, starting April 22. The market runs from 8 to noon and will be a normally structured market with some common-sense safety precautions. Find more about how the market will run in this video. We’re eager to connect with you there!