STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Wood River Farmers Market will go online and in-person when it opens for the summer on June 9.

Customers will have the option of pre-ordering and paying online each week. They can then pick up their order between 2 and 4 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Lower River Run parking lot at the base of Bald Mountain each Tuesday.

Or, they can partake of the farmers market in the more traditional way, walking from booth to booth between 4 to 6 p.m. with health and safety restrictions in place.

“It’s a COVID-safe market this year,” said Sheila Plowman, the market’s new manager.

Plowman said she expects to open with about 30 vendors. Two-thirds will be hawking produce and the rest, jewelry, salves and other non-food items.

Vendors will operate out of small booths, rather than double-wide booths as they did in the past. There’ll be six feet between the tents. There will be no music, at least initially. And there will be no samples and no food to eat on the premises

“But things can change,” said Plowman. “We’re starting conservatively and hopeful. We just want to make sure everything’s safe.”

Walk-through customers will be asked to use hand sanitizer that will be provided as they enter the area. Shoppers are also encouraged to wear masks.

Those who prefer to order online will get the chance to order Friday through Sunday—the order period for the June 9 Farmers Market taking place on June 5 and 6. They will be assigned a pickup time based on their last name.

To order, visit www.wrfarmersmarket.org.  The Local Food Alliance provided upfront money to secure the online system.

“Last year’s Farmers Market did well, and the farmers are excited and ready to roll,” said Plowman. “We’re taking a wait and see attitude on the Hailey Farmers Market. Our intention is to open up later in the season. It was just too much to open both at the same time this year with all the changes. We just want to take one step at a time.”