Market Square Farmers Market is moving its place, time
The Market Square Farmers Market is not going to be in Market Square.
Nor is the market going to be on Thursdays as usual.
But little is usual in this time of COVID-19, which has led the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership to temporarily move the popular market in space and time.
When the “11th Street Farmers Market” opens May 17, it will be held in a parking lot at 11th Street and Waterfront Place — where Downtown meets the Strip between the Convention Center and the Sen. John Heinz History Center — and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday mornings, where and when there will be more space to meet requirements to limit the risks and spread of the disease.
Restrictions will include limits on how many people can be in the market at one time. Shoppers will be required to wear masks and will be encouraged to preorder from and prepay vendors, which will be listed at https://downtownpittsburgh.com/farmersmarket, but shopping will be allowed. Vendors will be limited to farms and producers, whose spaces will be separated from each other and from customers per social distancing requirements. Eating and drinking will not be permitted, nor will pets.
Parking is free, thanks to the property owner, The Buncher Company, and Alco Parking. PDP President and CEO Jeremy Waldrup said the group considers the market to be essential to farmers and customers.
“Given the ongoing crisis, reinventing the farmers market at a new time and location allows us to
safely provide a great community benefit while also addressing social distance and safety concerns,” he said.
The market will be at the new location for at least two months. “Traditional Market Square operations may also return as well, once conditions make it viable,” the PDP said.
This is the 16th season for the popular market, which usually opens in mid-May and runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays, and includes a weekly concert. The PDP says 7,00010,000 people come to shop among about 30 vendors in the Downtown square. This season, the market will start with about 20 vendors.
Some farmers and food and drink vendors may be less interested — or unable — to sell at the market in this new location on a weekend day, which won’t have as many nearby workers who can visit during their lunch hours.
“It was one of the best markets that we do,” says Bob Simmons of Simmons Farm, a returning vendor. “I really have my reservations” about the new location and day, but “I hope it’s going to work.” Simmons also has two permanent markets of its own near McMurray that are busy on weekends.
Sherri Vizzuett, with her husband, Arturo, runs Cinco de Maya Salsas from New Eagle in Washington
County, and their salsas are a fixture at the Downtown market. While she says the market relocations they’ve experienced are “never favorable,” they are staying positive with these changes, as well as changes at the other markets where they sell.
“On an up note, it will be wonderful to feel productive and have our finances rectified, as well as hopefully seeing our faithful customers,” she said. “We strongly stand behind markets being a safer and healthier way of shopping. We all must sail the storm, remain a team and hope for better days ahead.”
All area farmers markets are having to adapt due to COVID-19 risks. The city of Pittsburgh’s markets are opening about a month later than usual, in June, and plan to require customers to order online ahead of time and only pick up at the markets, where no food may be prepared or consumed.
One of the five markets organized by the Office of Special Events is Squirrel Hill’s, which happens in the Beacon/Bartlett parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays starting June 7. The city also runs markets at Downtown’s Mellon Park and on the North Side on Fridays, East Liberty on Mondays and Carrick on Wednesdays. Information: pittsburghpa.gov/events/ farmers-market.
The independent Bloomfield Saturday Market (bloomfieldnow.org/ bloomfield-saturday-market) is reopening this Saturday, and its organizers are allowing some shopping for customers who are unable to order online or use their SNAP (food stamps) benefits that way. But they are instituting a lot of modifications. Bloomfield United is working with other market managers to help them figure out how to operate safely.
Some markets still haven’t set opening dates. The Original Farmers Market in Cecil, Washington County, postponed announcing its June opening, pending new guidance from Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration.
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s market is one of 20 where Just Harvest is offering its Fresh Access program, which gives SNAP shoppers Food Bucks that, new this season, match every dollar in benefits they spend.
On opening day at the Downtown market, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, with the Pittsburgh Redbud Project, will continue its annual tradition of giving away thousands of daffodil bulbs (reclaimed from Downtown planters) and redbud saplings.
For more information on the market, at 1201 Waterfront Place, visit downtownpittsburgh.com/farmersmarket.