Farmers markets have opened or are soon set to in the north and northwest suburbs with plenty of fresh produce and other foods, but they will not be the community gathering place of the past due to ongoing concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Barrington opens its farmers market Thursday, operating each Thursday through Oct 15 in a downtown parking lot. Market manager Margaret Myren said she will miss the community activities that will be gone this year.
“I wish we could celebrate in a bigger way but we can’t,” Myren said. “Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a farmers market is only a place where you can buy food. We won’t have the visiting artist or a nonprofit. I wish the library could have its table.”
Myren said she hopes some of the restrictions can be lifted before the season ends. Like Buffalo Grove, there will be one-way traffic in the parking lot in Barrington. For the first time there will be a completely organic farmer among the 14 vendors, including four who offer produce.
Read more here. The Barrington Farmers Market website can be found here.