This Johnson County summer icon is about to open. But what about coronavirus?
As a farmer, John Edmonds is no stranger to unforeseen problems: Drought. Flooding. The economic blow of trade wars.
Now, there’s coronavirus.
“It’s hard to gauge what the markets will look like in the coming months. However, we are controlling what we can control,” said Edmonds, who co-owns Green Thumbs Up in Leavenworth.
He remains hopeful that he’ll have a fruitful spring, especially since farmers markets were deemed essential food providers, like grocery stores, and can remain open during the metrowide stay at home order to curb the spread of COVID-19.
He will return to the Overland Park Farmers’ Market for his fifth year, when it opens on April 11. But this year, city leaders and vendors say the Johnson County summer icon — which draws several thousands visitors to downtown Overland Park — will look quite a bit different.
Worried about crowds brushing shoulders under the pavilion on Marty Street — organizers quickly formed a plan to keep the market open, but with social distancing.
This season, the market will move to the parking lot directly south of Matt Ross Community Center, at 8101 Marty St., where vendors can spread out in the open air. Customers will be directed to follow social distancing guidelines of staying six feet apart and avoiding groups of more than 10 people.
Events and children’s activities are canceled. And rather than hosting the regular 80 vendors, the farmers market will only allow 55 vendor stalls. So far, city spokesman Sean Reilly said about 35 vendors have signed up.
“Vendors will be in every third parking stall, and there will be no more than 10 people at any particular stall,” Reilly said. “We’ve had several thousand people attend on opening day, so we’re trying to limit the number of people. We hope with it being outside, people will keep a safe distance, take care of themselves, and if they’re vulnerable, have someone else shop for them.”
Meanwhile, the city of Lenexa has decided to postpone its farmers market, which was scheduled to open on April 25 — after the stay at home order is supposed to be lifted.
“Providing access to fresh, local food is very important to this community. But our top priority right now is to ensure the safety and health of our vendors, shoppers and staff as we deal with COVID-19,” Lenexa officials said in a news release. “The City of Lenexa is taking precautions to discourage formal public gatherings whenever possible.”
As the Kansas City metro is ordered to stay home, some farmers are threatened with declining revenue as stores close, trade shows are canceled, employees are sent home and customers slow spending.
If social-distancing guidelines are followed, Edmonds said he hopes the Overland Park Farmers’ Market will be a safer option for people buying groceries.
“No carts to wipe down. No stuffy building. No congested aisles. Fewer people to deal with,” said Edmonds, who has been farming with co-owner Austin Reynolds since they were children.
Edmonds and other local growers said the changes are not ideal, but they are relieved they can continue to rely on the market for sales this year.
“The market is a huge revenue source for us,” said Vashti Kern, with the garden center Bird’s Botanicals, which specializes in growing orchids. “All of our spring orchid shows were canceled due to the virus, which was our only time to sell to our customers out of state. As of now we are doing home deliveries once a week, taking all the necessary precautions.”
But as the number of coronavirus cases grows exponentially in Johnson County, vendors and city leaders hope the market can remain lucrative this year. The Overland Park Farmers’ Market brings in just under $100,000 in revenue to the city each year, according to a 2018 report.
In Kansas City, the open air City Market off Fifth Street, for example, has seen a significant drop in customers since the shutdown. What would usually be hundreds of visitors dwindled to about 40 this past Saturday, the first weekend after the stay at home orders took effect.
Mary Cyr, executive director of the Downtown Overland Park Partnership, said she expects smaller crowds this season, especially since events won’t draw hundreds of people as usual. But she remains optimistic that despite hosting fewer vendors, the farmers market will help reinvigorate the struggling downtown — which is now lined with dark store windows and “closed” signs, with a few restaurants offering takeout.
“The farmers market brings a lot to downtown,” Cyr said. “It has a deep meaning, as it was formed in the mid-’80s and was started by business owners who wanted to build a destination downtown. I think it’s great that the farmers market is going on in a different manner. The city has just retooled it.”
Cyr said it’s crucial for the market to remain open so that residents have access to fresh produce, and so farmers have somewhere to sell it.
“The city has recognized that it’s a utility. People need to have it,” she said. “A lot of low-income families shop there and they can use SNAP benefits. So it’s a wonderful way to eat healthy. And it’s important to support the farmers and help to keep another business going that normally wouldn’t be able to at this time.”
Another Overland Park summer icon, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, usually opens for the season on April 1. But to comply with the shutdown order, the farmstead, as well as the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens and the community’s playgrounds, will be closed at least until April 24.
This story was originally published March 31, 2020 at 2:40 PM.
