City Market’s Original Farmers’ Market opens Wednesday

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Downtown City Market’s weekly Original Farmers’ Market opens Wednesday for the season with several new rule changes.

The market is deemed an essential business as a local fresh produce source, as well as a provider of things like baked goods, syrups, dog treats and barbecue sauce, according to market representatives.

In accordance with social distancing guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic, Indianapolis City Market announced it will take the following precautions:

• · No prepared food.
• · No home-based vendors.
• · No demos or sampling.
• · All food sold on-site will be pre-packaged in a licensed facility and labeled according to federal guidelines.
• · Pet food and personal hygiene products will be allowed.
• · No food is to be consumed on-site.
• · Live entertainment will be temporarily suspended from the market.
• · Guests will be asked to adhere to social distancing guidelines marked in front of vendors 6 feet away from other individuals.
• · Guests are encouraged to bring their own masks and gloves.
• · Service animals will be the only pets allowed at the market.
• · Multiple hand-washing stations will be available on-site.
• · Guests are encouraged to pre-pay and pre-order with individual vendors as much as possible. All vendors and their contacts can be found under the “Original Farmers’ Market” tab at its website.
• · Guests are asked to refrain from consuming food or beverages on-site.
• · Guests are encouraged to shop on their own, if at all possible. Families are encouraged to send one family representative to the market to avoid larger groups of people while visiting the market.

The hours have not changed. They will be every Wednesday from May through October, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Also the “Dollar-For-Dollar Matching: Fresh Bucks & SNAP” programs continue. Individuals utilizing SNAP benefits will be able to once again double spend up to $20 through the Fresh Bucks program. SNAP users can utilize this program to buy fruits, vegetables, honey, herbs and spices, maple syrup and seedlings for edible plants, according to market representatives.

Shoppers can also contribute purchased items to the “Food Gleaning Program.” Drop off your donated purchases at the City Market Tent in front of the City Market House’s Market Street doors. The items are given to one of the three downtown homeless missions to prepare healthy meals for those in need, according to a press release.