Longmont Farmers Market kicks off 2021 season

On April 3, the Longmont Farmers Market started in full swing for the 2021 season. The market, which is held at the Boulder County Fairgrounds, will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through November 20.

"It was great that we were able to open on time this year," said Brian Coppom, executive director of the Boulder County Farmers Markets (BCFM). Last year, the opening day for the Boulder County markets was delayed by eight weeks due to COVID-19 restrictions.

For the 2021 market, customers can make a reservation in advance or simply walk up. "Most of our traffic right now is walk-up, and we're thrilled to have people show up whenever is convenient for them," said Coppom.

Though the total number of people in the market will be capped, Coppom noted that on opening day, there were no lines in Longmont and, at most, a five-minute wait in Boulder for walk-up customers. The market additionally offers an 8-8:30 a.m. time slot for high-risk populations.

The Longmont market will also continue to offer curbside pick-up all this year, an option that allows customers to shop and order online and pick up their purchases at the market. Coppom noted that this has been a popular service both for people who don't feel comfortable attending the market in person and for folks who might want to support local farmers or engage in the local food system but might not be able to attend the market for any number of reasons.

"That's really our goal - to increase the total number of people who are buying from local farmers," said Coppom.

Though there will continue to be some COVID-19 restrictions and precautions in place, Coppom noted that BCFM will continue to adjust the market's offerings as informed by Boulder Country Health regulations and customer comfort levels.

"One of the challenges is that we have a responsibility that we take very seriously to keep people safe. As restrictions are loosened, we want to make sure that we are reflecting our customers' attitudes towards how comfortable they are with some of these restrictions being loosened," said Coppom.

One way that BCFM will be doing this is by conducting weekly surveys at the market, asking customers to share how they are feeling about loosening the mask mandate or changing social distancing.

"We'll be able to respond to that feedback so that we can stay in step with our customers," Coppom said.

At this time, there will be no on-site food sampling, food court, live music, or artisan shows, and vendor booths will continue to be spaced out per Boulder Country recommendations.

However, as county-regulated social distancing regulations were recently eased, the market no longer is enforcing one-way traffic which Coppom said should help customers browse and get a bit more of the nostalgic feel of the pre-pandemic market even though everyone will still be required to wear masks.

"The markets look very much like how we ended last year, so we still have COVID protocols in place. The good news is that Boulder County Public Health has changed its mask mandate for outdoors so we're still requiring masks, but we were able to loosen the social distancing restrictions," said Coppom.

And BCFM, along with local vendors, will continue to come up with innovative ways to connect with the community.

For example, BCFM is partnering with the Longmont Firehouse Art Center to create weekly grab-and-go kids' activities which parents can pick up from the welcome booth near the market's entrance.

"The intention is that children can look forward to having a piece of discovery at the market that is specifically for them in the form of this little art kit," said Coppom. "We're really excited about working with the Firehouse. They're such a creative organization and the director, Elaine [Waterman], is amazing. It's a great partnership."

As the summer progresses, Coppom said the market hopes to be able to bring in more vendors and possibly bring back other farmer's market staples such as on-site sampling, food trucks, and live music, depending on how vaccinations progress and COVID-19 restrictions unfold.

The 2021 Longmont Farmers Market will have a few new farmers starting in May along with many returning prepared-food and packaged-food vendors, though not all farmers will be returning to the BCFM market this year.

Coppom noted that in response to navigating pandemic restrictions last year, many local farmers ended up increasing CSAs or creating on-site pop-up farm stands.

"What we're seeing this year is that some of those farmers are sticking with larger CSAs or increased offerings at their farm stands and are not attending market," he said.

Customers can still expect a good selection and hopefully increased options as more vendors can attend the Longmont market as COVID restrictions loosen.

"The farmers at market did well last year, and all indications are that they will do well this year," said Coppom. "Opening day was a really great day for all of our vendors."

While customers shouldn't expect the 2021 Longmont Farmers Market to fully return to pre-pandemic "business as usual," they can expect to see the market evolve and adapt as COVID restrictions continue to change throughout the summer.

"We all have a common picture of what we're working towards which looks a lot like what used to happen for years," said Coppom. "I see customers taking a little bit more time at the market. It feels a bit more relaxed and casual even with the restrictions that we have in place."