Vendors at Maple Grove Farmers Market Adapt to COVID-19 Restrictions

The Maple Grove Farmers Market is open every Thursday in the parking lot of the Maple Grove Community Center. Vendors have increased their sanitary practices, are wearing masks and say foot traffic “has been busier than usual.” There are new requirements in place for vendors and market-goers alike at the Maple Grove Farmers Market.

“Some of the changes are, of course, face masks. Then we’re also doing a table in front of our regular table so we keep the social distancing,” said Jon Borman of JB’s Homemade at Its Finest. “This is the official start of the summer farmers market. Two weeks ago we had our indoor market outside. And people supported it great.”

Borman makes an olive salsa with green and black olives, red pepper, red onion, garlic, jalapeno, red wine vinegar and olive oil.

“You can do so much with it. It’s great on pizza, pasta, salads. Then, we also have double smoked barbecue bean with pulled pork and bacon,” said Borman.

While making the salsa, he also increased his sanitary practices.

“At home we’re so much more careful. Washing our hands all the time, sanitizing, making sure the product is very safe. I think it’s always been safe, but you just take extra precautions with the COVID-19,” said Borman.

Jim Beck of Beck’s Elk River Greenhouse and Vegetable Farm says he’s felt an impact from the COVID-19 changes.

“I think we’ve been a little bit busier than most years. Usually the economy and that kind of thing with the pandemics and the flu’s we’ve had in the past, it doesn’t really affect agriculture. People still have to have vegetables and people still have to have flowers. Vegetables definitely more than flowers,” said Beck.

Farmers market goers don’t seem daunted by new look of things. Looks like a warm sunny day will still bring out the patrons.

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Maple Grove