Jordan Beck | Daily Press Escanaba resident Julie Urbschat, left, buys items from Billie Woodard at Gladstone’s farmers’ market Monday. The market re-opened on Monday, May 18.

ESCANABA — As summer continues, one local farmers’ market has opened for business and another is slated to re-open early next month.

Gladstone’s farmers’ market re-opened on Monday, May 18. So far, the market’s 2020 season has been successful.

“It’s been going great,” Farmers’ Market Coordinator Samantha Grzybowski said.

Rick Bricker, a farmers’ market vendor and volunteer with the Gladstone Downtown Development Authority (DDA), said the coronavirus pandemic has not kept people away from the market in 2020.

“Attendance has been up at least 50 percent this year,” he said.

According to Bricker, people from outside of the area have been stopping by.

“We get customers from all over the state and all over the country,” he said.

Many different vendors are participating in the farmers’ market this summer, as well.

“We’re about at full capacity, vendor-wise,” Grzybowski said.

Initially, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development stated vendors who solely sold non-essential items could not participate in farmers’ markets. However, things have since changed — a wide variety of products are now available at Gladstone’s farmers’ market. Items sold at the market include produce, baked goods, jams and jellies, meats, plants, flowers, baked goods, crafts and woodwork.

“As we progress into the season, our variety is increasingly significant,” Gladstone DDA Coordinator Ron Miaso said.

However, some social distancing measures are still in place due to COVID-19-related concerns. Grzybowski said vendors are required to wear masks and gloves and have hand sanitizer available.

In 2019, live music was performed at a small bandshell on some market days. These performances have been suspended, but the DDA may be able to bring them back this year under updated guidance from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office.

“We’re hoping to do live music,” Grzybowski said.

Currently, a lineup for performances is being worked on. Some changes will be implemented when live music returns at the farmers’ market.

“We’re not going to set it up so people are … sitting side-by-side,” Miaso said.

Meanwhile, Escanaba’s farmers’ market is scheduled to begin its season on Wednesday, July 8. The re-opening is being promoted with signage at the city marketplace.

“There’s a big banner right across the front of it,” Escanaba Downtown Development Authority Assistant Director Judy Schroeder said.

The re-opening will take place about a month after June 1, which Schroeder previously said would have been the market’s normal opening date.

As of Tuesday, Schroeder was working to develop safety procedures for Escanaba’s farmers’ market. She said these are not yet finalized, as she is trying to comply with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“I wish they’d stop changing them,” she said.

Still, Schroeder is looking forward to the market’s re-opening.

“I miss my vendors — I miss my people,” she said.