GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Local farmers and shoppers got to head back to the Fulton Street Farmers Market in Grand Rapids Saturday morning, celebrating the first day of the main season. This year, however things looked a little different.
Even with the fear of coronavius looming overhead, the sun was shining as shoppers entered the Farmers market wearing their facemasks and gloves.
Vendors filled stalls with fresh produce, meats, cheese and even coffee and hard cider.
Things were clearly different than they had been in the past.
“so obviously, you know, I'm wearing a mask, most of our customers here and all of our vendors are wearing masks," said Andrew Steiner, a Fulton Street Market board member.
Masks we're the only thing change the market made.
“So we expect that you know, as the morning moves on, definitely a line will be forming," Steiner said.
The line to be one of the 66 people allowed in the market at a time stretched down past their main offices, and at one point was even broken up into two lines.
“we've got these barricades set up so that we can kind of sneak the line around the outside of the market," he said.
Shoppers said that line to get in was worth it.
“We’re having a good time. We had a small line to wait in but it wasn’t too bad," one shopper said.
Then vendors that peddling their goods were glad people are choosing to support the local farmers during these hard times.
“let's see, this is what's beautiful about our community. Our community can come on support each other and this is it and this is what we need," said Justin Lummen with The People's Cider Co.
He says he's glad that in a time when he can't get everything he needs at the grocery store, the farmers market is there.
“ But, you know, what I'm looking forward to right now is, is this what we have? You know, I think we all have to be appreciative of what we have, you know, you can get everything that you need here at the farmers market.”
After today, the Fulton Street Farmers Market will be open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday Mornings from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.
