Carmel Farmers Market Ushers in a FRESH New Season
April 2021
Who’s ready for the Carmel Farmers Summer Market? The volunteer committee is more than ready to welcome us all back for a season that will look, feel and sound more like summer seasons from the past!
When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Limoncello!
While it’s important to support the Indiana purveyors and growers that participate in the market every Saturday, it is equally important for the market goers to experience a sense of community that inherently comes with attending CFM every Saturday at Carter Green. With the pandemic in play, it has been a challenge, to say the least, for any organization to create a sense of normalcy and tradition without major pivoting and reinvention. The dedicated CFM volunteers put in over 580.25 volunteer hours at the market last season, planning and implementing, and their efforts paid off.
“We were able to provide good, safe and wholesome food to the citizens of Carmel and beyond,” Ron Carter, president of CFM, said. “We had volunteers so dedicated to the market—it was literally almost open for two years every Saturday. We pivoted and overcame obstacles. I think it’s good that we continue to be a volunteer organization because all the other markets that are municipally run didn’t run [last summer]. We were able to welcome people and make sure that many of our vendors continued to have a livelihood.”
CFM vice president Deborah Schmitz added, “We revamped the sites to make it safe for everybody by dividing the booth spaces so there is separation from the people next to them, giving that 6-foot barrier, and we did signage everywhere to keep it a one-way traffic pattern, which worked very well.”
Carter was pleased to report that the market did not have any contact-tracing come back to the market last summer.
“We had no indication from any of the authorities that there was any traceable [virus cases] back to the market,” Carter stated. “We had masks and hand sanitizer that were supplied by the Carmel Fire Department.”
CFM created new traditions that came out of a season when “You can’t do that” was the mantra for most typical traditions. The market held a walking parade on July 4, absent the city’s renowned holiday traditions. And Carter arranged for a stilt walker and a flyover! Carter has arranged for more flyovers on Saturday, May 1 and Saturday, July 3!
“Because we stayed open an extra month in October—we usually shut down for two weeks before the winter market—we were here on Halloween,” Schmitz shared. “We dressed in costumes, had a scavenger hunt and ‘musical pumpkins.’”
She added, “Last year was a challenge, but it has been fun!”
The market is going to boast a lot of new additions to add to the joyous Saturday morning rituals, as well as welcome the return of classic market features, such as weekly live music and fresh and delicious food offerings for market goers to devour and enjoy while shopping, congregating with family and friends and taking in the splendor that only Carmel Farmers Market can generate throughout Carter Green in the heart of Carmel.
Get Fresh on Saturday, May 1
Schmitz was excited to share that the majority of their regular and devout vendors are returning this summer, and they’re adding nine new vendors to the CFM family!
“Our volunteers are all coming back, and we’ve got a few new volunteers joining us this season,” Schmitz said. “They [volunteers] are so excited and are promoting the market left and right!”
For a complete list of returning and NEW vendors, visit carmelfarmersmarket.com.
Join us at the Summer Market at Carter Green for opening day on Saturday, May 1 from 8 – 11:30 a.m.!
MAY 1, 2021
Blair Clark
Entertainment
Take a little pop, throw in some R&B, mix it with some soul and add a touch of jazz, and the result is the electrifying sounds of Blair Clark.
MAY 8, 2021
Bryce Ernest Taylor
Entertainment
Bryce’s smooth lead vocal is accented by electronically enhanced harmonies, interesting instrumentation and rhythms.
MAY 15, 2021
Island Party
Entertainment
Caribbean music.
MAY 22, 2021
Tim Wright
Entertainment
Tim Wright has a voice as nimble as his fingers, picking a seemingly endless succession of stringed instruments.
MAY 29, 2021
Witch Hazel Valley People
Entertainment
American roots and Western swing music. You’re bound to sing, clap your hands and go to cuttin’ the rug!
JUNE 5, 2021
Island Breeze
Entertainment
Two steel drums, keyboard, guitar, Island hand percussion and great vocals make this band unique.
Writer:
Janelle Morrison
Photography:
Courtesy of CFM and Jennifer Hershberger