By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
UPDATE:
There were new developments in the Farmer's Market planning Friday afternoon. According to Shannon Rosauer, Live Well Geary County volunteer, the Health Department has given approval to plan a Farmer's Market for Junction City. It will be held in the Geary Community Hospital parking lot with a start date still to be determined.
Other details remain to be worked out, but Rosauer indicated all social distancing and booth spacing requirements with COVID-19 reopening guidelines would be followed. At this point she anticipates the final product will be smaller than the Farmer's Markets in year's past and there could be some virtual market activity as well, but final decisions are still pending. Planning continues on this effort which took a step forward Friday afternoon.
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Do not expect the traditional large outdoor Farmer's Market outside Geary Community Hospital this year due to COVID-19. However there is some effort underway to provide some alternatives with Health Department and Live Well Geary County working on that project.
Shannon Rosauer, a volunteer with Live Well Geary County, said they're reaching out to the vendors who normally come to those farmer's markets. "We plan to offer a place where at the very least people can go online and find those vendors that they know and love."
Rosauer noted that there are also some discussions about doing a small in-person farmer's market, but that is unclear at this point. In year's past the Farmer's Market ran June through September, but the extent of a market and possible dates for this year are still to be determined.
Rosauer said the Manhattan Farmer's Market is occurring on Saturday's from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the 8-9 a.m. hour reserved for shopping by the higher risk population. Social distancing is being practiced. The market is held near the Dillards parking lot outside the Town Center mall.