By KARA HAMMES, guest columnist

The Nashville Indiana Farmers Market (NIFM) is excited to be gearing up for the start of its fourth market season later this month. The first market day will be Sunday, May 17 and will continue to be held in the parking lot of the Brown County Inn from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays, through the end of October.

However, this delayed start date isn’t the only thing that will look different at market this year, as the board continues to assess the necessary and recommended precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

NIFM does not have the infrastructure or volunteer support to implement measures like the Bloomington Farmers Market’s online ordering system, so we are moving ahead with an in-person market, but with steps in place that we hope will protect our customers and vendors while still allowing the market to occur. We’re not sure how long it will be necessary but, for now, the following changes will be in effect:

• Do not attend the market if you are ill, showing signs of illness, or have had contact with someone sick/tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two weeks.
• The market will be set up in a different area of the Brown County Inn parking lot to allow for more space between vendor booths and customers, as well as providing one entry point and one exit point.
• One person per vendor at a time, and customers should practice physical distancing of at least 6 feet between individuals while at market. Chalk, caution tape and signage will be used to help indicate this spacing. We ask that you follow CDC recommendations regarding wearing masks or face coverings.
• There will be no product sampling at market and customers should not touch any products they do not intend to purchase. We are working with vendors to think through options for pre-packaging product, rounding prices, and division of work within their booth (bagging product vs. accepting payment) when possible.
• There will be no live music, no children’s activity area, and vendors will be limited to selling “essential” items, such as produce, plants, meat, eggs, baked goods and other prepared foods, and soap.
• Hand sanitizer will be available at all booths, but customers are encouraged to wash their hands before arriving at market and upon returning home. Public access to the Brown County Inn restrooms will not be permitted.

While market will look a little different this year, we are still hopeful that it can serve as a bright spot in your week and a reliable and local source of fresh foods in Brown County.

We continue to accept applications for vendors of all types, and would love to hear from any community members interested in volunteering their time, enthusiasm and skills to support the market. You can reach out to [email protected] with any questions or to express interest.

Even with all the changes outlined above, we’d be remiss if we didn’t highlight the good news we have to celebrate this market season as well.

First and foremost, we are excited to welcome Rachael Perney to the market team as market manager. A Bloomington native, Rachael recently moved to Brown County after living in Colorado for a decade. She brings experience working in organic markets, organizing volunteers, and interest in gardening and indigenous foods to us. We can’t wait for you all to meet her.

Furthermore, thanks to a generous donor, we have some funds available to continue “doubling” SNAP and WIC dollars at market. Stop by the Market Information Booth with your EBT card WIC, or Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks, and you can shop just like you would at any grocery store. Only shopping at NIFM is better, because the market doubles the dollars you spend up to $10 per visit, for as long as our funds last. Debit $10 from your EBT card, and we will give you an extra $10 in Market Bucks (for a total of $20) to spend on fruits, vegetables and other approved products. It’s the same for WIC or Senior FMNP checks and products approved for purchase through those programs.

So, while there will definitely be changes and challenges this year, we also know there is plenty to be excited about at the Nashville Indiana Farmers Market.

We know that government recommendations may change in the next two weeks before our first market, but we will monitor the situation and make the best decisions we can for the market and our community of vendors, customers and volunteers.

To keep up-to-date with everything going on at the market, sign up for our newsletter by e-mailing us at [email protected] and following us on Facebook at Nashville Indiana Farmers Market.

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BEAN BLOSSOM — Due to concern for the safety of their vendors, customers and community, the Bean Blossom Farmers Market has canceled in-person open air market shopping for the 2020 season.

Organizers encourage market shoppers to visit the beanblossomfarmersmarket.com website or Facebook to see the products vendors have available for ordering and pick-up, or purchase directly from the farms or roadside stands.

Vendors include:

• Mary Lou Nay, Nay-tures Hilltop Farms, text 812-480-7767 or [email protected]
• Lynn Jewell, High Thyme Farms, 2152 Grandma Barnes Road, 317-445-2950, [email protected]
• Linnea Good, Linnea’s Greenhouse, 7092 N. Shilo Road, Unionville, 812-340-0470, [email protected]
• Scott and Jill Stowers, The Wood Frog, 1294 McLary Road, 812-345-4711, [email protected]
• Phil Wuensch, Uncle Phil’s Farm, 392 Camp Moneto Road, Nashville, 812-318-0538
• Annamarie Hamilton, Ram Family Farms, 765-341-0491, [email protected]

— Donna Niednagel, Bean Blossom Farmers Market

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