Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Our spring member drive has ended, but it's not too late to give. You have the power to help fund the essential journalism that keeps us all informed. Help us close the gap on our spring fundraising goal! GIVE NOW
Find the latest information on the Coronavirus outbreak in Utah, including public health measures, contact information, news updates, and more.

What To Expect This Year At The Farmer's Market

Music may be something you missed from last year’s farmer’s markets as markets across the state implemented new rules to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Jane Wylie is the manager at the Wheeler Sunday Market in Salt Lake and said they didn’t have art venders until the end of the season. 

“Our main focus is to provide good, healthy food, and to support our local businesses and farmers," Wylie said. "We started out only allowed to have fruits and veggies. Then, as the guidances changed from the Utah Department of Ag. and Food, we were able to add packaged food."

Some markets, such as the Cache Valley Gardeners Market, have already started their season. Market manager Mary Laine said things are almost back to normal. 

“We're a mask-recommended market. We recommend we you wear a mask, but we don't make you. We also have music and every kind of booth that we used to have in the past. The only thing we're doing is some social distancing between booths,” Laine said. 

Different markets may have different rules in place. The Wheeler Sunday Market requires unvaccinated people to wear a mask. 

“We also have hand washing stations, hand sanitizer stations. If you're sick, we don't want you at the market, things like that," said Wylie. "So basically what we did last year, but everybody's a little bit more used to it now which is nice .” 

This season, more people have wanted to get involved. 

“It seems like people started realizing we're getting back to normal. We have a lot of people who want to apply so we're going to reopen applications in a couple weeks, when we're up and running and sure nothing is coming down the pike from COVID to stop us from getting bigger,” said Laine.

“We're seeing a lot of people (who), I don't want to call them backyard farmers, but they have a smaller piece of land in a more suburban area- come out with their produce," said Wylie. "We're seeing a lot of people start businesses, and we're seeing a lot of camaraderies.”