Omaha Farmers Market alters event structure to allow for safe environment

Juli Oberlander • October 1, 2020

Omaha Farmers Market alters event structure to allow for safe environment, enacts new policies to keep community healthy

Photos courtesy of Kristen Beck

Every year, the Omaha Farmers Market provides an opportunity for the community to shop for fresh produce, interact with local artisans and support farmers.

As the markets have grown in size, Project Manager Kristen Beck says that mission remains the same.

"The Omaha Farmers Market was established in 1994 to make locally grown foods accessible, provide a venue for local growers to market their goods, and add to the vitality of our community’s life," Beck says. "For 24 weeks, the markets are a destination in Omaha for families and friends to discover new produce, eat fresh food, purchase local goods, listen to local musician and support small businesses."

Beck says fresh produce, one-of-kind products and community relationships have transformed the Omaha Farmers Market into what it is today.

However, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Omaha businesses, she says the team saw the need to adjust its format and delay the opening of its Old Market and Aksarben Village markets.

"In 2020, COVID-19 forced us to postpone the opening of the Saturday Market in the Old Market and the Sunday Market at Aksarben Village by five weeks," Beck says. "In order to open the market, we had to work directly with the Douglas County Health Department on new policies to ensure the safety of the market, staff, vendors and customers."

Vic Gutman, founder of the event, says the team had to make various changes to ensure the safety of its vendors and customers, such as decreasing its vendors, enforcing social distancing requirements and designating the first hour of the event for seniors and people with underlying health conditions.

Gutman says the planning for this year's event has brought many difficulties.

"2020 has been an especially challenging year for our markets, local vendors and artisans," he says. "We’ve faced many challenges including postponing the market a month, limited vendors onsite, decreased sales, new policies and restrictions, relocating both locations to temporary rented venues and investing in new onsite facility supplies to create a safe and operational event."

Due to the opening delay, Beck says the market has experienced unforeseen expenses and lost income from sponsors and vendors, which has resulted in a major loss of venue in 2020. Yet, the planning team has persevered in its goal to provide shoppers with a safe environment for the 2020 markets.

The Old Market location is open now and continues every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through October 10. The Aksarben Village site operates at the same time every Sunday through October 11. Face masks are highly encouraged, and all vendors are required to wear a mask and have a handwashing station at their booth.

With the markets open to the community, Beck says she is grateful for the resilience of producers and shoppers who have made the event possible.

"We are incredibly thankful for the market farmers and makers for participating," she says, "and the customers who have continued to support the markets and local vendors during this challenging year."

For more information on Omaha Farmers Market's COVID-19 policies, visit the website.

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