This spring I have become a roaming vendor. For the past couple of weeks I’ve packed my truck filled with all the goodies I need for my sellers booth. My Capital City Public Market identity tag proudly hangs from the rear view mirror. It allows me to gain entry into our market site and park in our designated parking lot. But this year is different. The market is still awaiting the designated opening stage to get us safely back in downtown Boise. Our market is very popular. Perhaps too popular as on any given Saturday you would find thousands of people strolling the streets, engaging with our wonderful assortment of vendors and perhaps even getting a bite to eat at one of the local restaurants or visiting the shops.

The farmers markets are clever. With the various local city offices they have been approved to set up for business. Booths are placed further apart. One way directions are the norm. Pre arranged time appointments are encouraged. Masks, gloves, disinfectants and a hefty use of sanitary protocol are in place. No touching of product is deeply encouraged and no self bagging. Customers are telling me they are just so excited to be outside again and shop for fresh produce, meats and eggs and locally handcrafted items. They feel safe. They want to buy local and support all the small businesses that make up our farmers markets.

Well back to my original story….The Capital City Public Market has been setting up “temporarily” at the 34th Street Market location in Garden City. It’s a great space that’s very visible from the Greenbelt and a bridge away from Whitewater Park. The downside is the venue can only support 25 to 30 vendors. So we take turns. My first turn was on May 9th. I will be back on May 30th. The problem is I have a huge inventory of new product that I had planned to start selling early April. I needed an alternative plan to sell my wares but as any vendor will tell you we love the entire environment of the market; the people, our customers, the freedom of having your own 10 x 10 shop space once a week and the exciting unknown of how well sales will go. So I found some temporary “alternative” new homes. Last weekend it was the Nampa Farmers Market. Super friendly people. It has a great diversity of products. Easy location. The homemade pies must be a real hit as I saw many customers walking around with their pastry boxes. Now I wish I had picked up one but I did get some wonderful baklava. This coming weekend the 23rd I will be at the opening day for the Meridian Farmers Market. Completely new venue and friends to meet.

So these pictures reflect the current state of my vendor experience this season. I am waiting the day when the CCPM will be whole again. When all its vendor members can be together again to create that great market experience we are familiar with. In the meantime I am grateful to have options. The market managers have all been so flexible and working hard to bring the markets to life again. I know where I need to be for the next two weeks. After that? Not sure right now but I will be “on the go”.