GRAND FORKS — Over the past couple of years, the Town Square Farmers Market has adapted to changes in location and operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and construction. This year the market will return again in full force, opening on Saturday, June 18, in the Town Square on the corner of DeMers and Third Street.
Market hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through Sept. 24. The market will feature local vendors selling produce, arts and crafts, bakery items, coffee and other concessions.
Dawn Rognerud, the TSFM board president, said many long-time established vendors are coming back, including Forest River Colony, Allard’s Produce and Little Bangkok. Bucklin’s Concessions will return with their mini donuts, kettle corn and coffee, while Two Sisters Bagels will be selling their bagels and jam. Tintah Beach Farms will return this year after their first time selling produce at the market in 2021.
According to Rognerud, the produce market suffered due to the drought last year, and there may be a similar outcome this year due to the wet weather and late planting.
“I know that some of our produce vendors were just getting in late May, and that’s unusual,” said Rognerud.
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Rognerud said there will also be a “good mix” of new vendors, selling goods such as coffee, blankets, and personalized crafts.
This year’s farmers market will also feature live entertainment from local musicians Daniel Knight, Zach Thomas, Latin and jazz group Penumbra, and many more.
In Rognerud’s time as president of the TSFM since 2018, the farmers market has changed locations twice, adjusting to downtown road construction. The market moved in 2019 to North Fourth Street, between Lyons Auto and City Hall. For a nonprofit organization with few employees, setting up in the street was “a huge undertaking,” according to Rognerud. However, she said, the street allowed for social distancing and spacing between the vendors to be possible in the summer of 2020.
“Instead of having vendors right next to each other, we left what is essentially one vendor spot in between each, so it was almost a checkerboard down the street. We directed the flow of traffic. Signs were out, hand-washing stations were out, hand sanitizer was available. Our vendors were asked to select what their customers wanted and bag it for them to minimize people handling food,” Rognerud said about the 2020 summer market. The market also designated an hour prior to public opening time for the elderly and immunocompromised to browse and shop.
The farmers market in 2020 saw less vendors and attendees, which “was to be expected,” said Rognerud, but still many supporters, vendors and customers remained loyal to the market.
In 2021, the market returned to the Town Square with some precautions still in place and an increase in attendees.
Hand-washing stations and hand sanitizer continue to be available for customer use, and the elderly and immunocompromised are welcome to shop the market before the 9 a.m. opening. As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations remain low, Rognerud anticipates growing numbers of patrons at the market this year.
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