Farmer’s market weathers winter, COVID-19

The Vermillion Area Farmer’s Market is holding its winter markets at 312 Bower St. While the winter markets normally have differences in stock due to the availability of fresh produce, the ongoing pandemic has forced the markets to adapt in other ways.

Amy Schweinle, president of the Farmer’s Market Board, said the general differences in a winter farmer’s market are a move indoors, as well as a reduction in the availability of fresh produce.

“It’s more, you know, canned or meats,” Schweinle said. “But what we do have is root vegetables fresh.”

The winter farmer’s markets happen only twice a month, as opposed to regular weekly operation. Schweinle said this means it’s a challenge to keep the market on people’s minds. Additionally, because of COVID-19, Schweinle said many customers are nervous about shopping indoors. To combat this, the market opened an online storefront for customers to pick up orders.

Dale Hebda, owner of Hebda Family Produce, said his products this time of year consist mostly of jams, jellies, salsas and pickled products. Hebda said he values the Vermillion community as a market.

“Based upon the size of the community, the per capita income, I’ve always been impressed with the Vermillion market and what they’re able to do,” Hebda said. “People show up.”

Schweinle said the market operates as a venue for vendors’ business, as a way for customers to get access to fresh, local products and as part of the Vermillion community.

“It’s a community gathering place, you know, COVID excepted, it’s a place for people to come and celebrate this community,” Schweinle said. “It’s what we have to share, to offer here at the community and it’s the people gathering together around that.”

Doug Van Beek, owner of Grounded Coffee, another vendor at the market, said the primary challenge of the market this year has been the ongoing pandemic.

“People are a bit scared to come out, I guess,” Van Beek said. “But the market’s done a good job about setting up precautions to address those.”

Hebda said these challenges have involved the discomfort of masks and how social distancing impacts customer relations.

“I don’t like wearing a mask, but it is what it is. I’m sure there’s a lot of customers that don’t like it as well, but they accept that as their current reality,” Hebda said. “It gets harder to engage customers because you keep your distance.”

Last year, The Volante reported that the market was considering a move to a more permanent structure. Schweinle said the market has not yet had the opportunity to make that move.

“We don’t have a location or funding to create that yet,” Schweinle said. “We are in a new place just this year for our winter market.”

Hebda and Van Beek both said they hope the Vermillion community keeps showing up to the market.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” Hebda said. “And yeah, you’re paying over the prices of national chains, but you’re buying a locally made product that they hope they’re really impressed with.”

“Vermillion customers have always been very good at the farmer’s market there and, you know, they’ve supported the market really well,” Van Beek said.