It's Bloomington farmers market season. Here are your options for local produce and more

Another sign that winter is over, spring is here and summer's on the way is the opening of Bloomington area farmers' markets.

Offering everything from locally grown produce and meats to prepared food ready to eat, two farmers' markets will open this Saturday, a third will open in May and the People's Market, remains open daily online with deliveries twice each week.

The Bloomington Winter Farmers' Market ended its season on March 26. Many of those vendors will participate in one or more of the warm weather markets.

Hundreds of people shop at the Bloomington Community Farmer’s Market Aug. 17, 2019, at Showers Plaza.
Hundreds of people shop at the Bloomington Community Farmer’s Market Aug. 17, 2019, at Showers Plaza.

Bloomington Community Farmers' Market

The Bloomington Community Farmers' Market will begin its 2022 season Saturday with 58 produce farm vendors and 11 food and beverage artisans on its roster. The market will be open 8 a.m.-1 p.m. next to Bloomington City Hall at 401 N. Morton St. through September and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in October and November.

The first weeks of the market won't have all the vendors, Boone said, since some won't have produce ready to sell. But items for sale will include fresh produce and flowers as well as coffee, tacos, pastries and offerings from a new Filipino food artisan, Boone said.

There will be no restricted entrance and exits this year, according to Clarence Boone, farmers' market coordinator. Face masks are optional but are recommended, Boone said. There will be hand sanitizer available for people at the market.

While the city parks board has approved a contract to have two private security officers at every Saturday market, Boone said he doesn't anticipate any problems.

"We have a safe, accepting and warm environment for all," he said. "We are hopeful and anticipate that we won't have any (problems) this year."

On the Menu: Chocolate Moose at The Gables opens shop next to BuffaLouie's

The first Saturday market of each month will include "Info Alley," for people, clubs and organizations to have space to share their views and information with anyone interested. On the second Saturday of each month, the Affair of the Arts will be open on the patio area near the steps of City Hall for artists and crafts people to sell items.

Each week there will be a roving naturalist and a city representative — sometimes Mayor John Hamilton or Deputy Mayor Don Griffin, both of whom will be at the season's first market — to discuss issues and answer questions. The city officials will be near the north end of the market next to the parks department tent.

Something people who walk along the B-Line Trail to access the market may need to know: A portion of the trail near the Johnson Creamery will be closed until repairs of the smokestack on the property are completed.

2020’s final Bloomington Woolery Farmers’ Market is seen in the grassy field just south of the Woolery Mill along West Tapp Road. The market opens for its 2022 season on Saturday.
2020’s final Bloomington Woolery Farmers’ Market is seen in the grassy field just south of the Woolery Mill along West Tapp Road. The market opens for its 2022 season on Saturday.

Bloomington Woolery Farmers' Market

The Bloomington Woolery Farmers' Market will open Saturday in the grassy field and parking area near the Woolery Mill on the city's southwest side. The farmers' market off West Tapp Road will be open 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday through September and 9 a.m. to noon in October.

On the first market day, Bloomington's well known green-winged macaw and his owner Jojo Porowski will be celebrating Charlie Bird's 40th birthday at Woolery. Sarah Milward, author of the book "Charlie Bird Loves Bloomington," will read excerpts from her book.

JoJo Porowski sprays his green-winged macaw Charlie with water to keep him cool at a Bloomington event in 2017.
JoJo Porowski sprays his green-winged macaw Charlie with water to keep him cool at a Bloomington event in 2017.

More: Take a peek inside The Elm, a new Bloomington restaurant opening Wednesday

Rosie Sill, a farm vendor and board member, said this year the market will be doubling SNAP (food stamp benefits) up to $27.

"We were only able to add that at the end of the market last year, so we're excited about that," Sill said.

New to the market will be a couple picnic tables for people to use, close to the area where live music is provided. For the first market, Mitch Rice and Kid Kazooie will perform.

The market has 46 farm and food vendors on its 2022 list, although not all of them will be at every market. Each week at least one or two food trucks will be selling items near the music area. A knife sharpener will be there every other week and wild salmon vendor will be at the market the first and third Saturday of each month.

Sill anticipates that more vendors will sign up to participate in the market as the season warms.

People's Cooperative Market

The People's Cooperative Market is continuing its online market that's open every day with deliveries by 3 p.m. Saturdays and 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Anyone who wants to participate can find the vendors and produce, meat, eggs and other items at www.peoplesmarketbtown.org.

The market is BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) focused, according to Jada Bee, one of the market's officials. The market also is woman- and nonbinary-led. Bee said it is the only "anti-racist, food justice farmers' market" in the area.

On April 8, People's Market will have a table at the Food Truck Friday event at Switchyard Park. Vendors will be selling their products — vegetables, prepared food, plants and home products — and people can stop by to order or pick up deliveries they've placed online.

In May People's Market will have an on-the-ground market location on Saturdays, but that location hasn't been selected.

Smithville Farmers' Market

Smithville Farmers' Market will begin its season May 7 and will be open 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays until the third weekend in September. The market will be in the Smithville Park shelter house on Strain Ridge Road and will have produce, baked goods, handmade edibles, crafts and annual and perennial plants.

There's plenty of parking, live music and a table for people to eat or talk. Restrooms are available as is handicapped access. Smithville is an unincorporated community southeast of Bloomington off Fairfax Road.

Contact Carol Kugler at ckugler@heraldt.com, 812-331-4359 or @ckugler on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington area farmers' markets open for 2022 season on Saturday