Kane County Reporter

The spread of COVID-19 has put a temporary end to many social gatherings, including the Elgin Farmers Market, but there are signs that it may reopen in June. 

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Downtown Neighborhood Association said that if the city approves it, the farmers market might be allowed to reopen Friday, June 5. 

The stay-at-home order has made such a venue impossible but if the farmers market is allowed to open, it will be one of the only public gatherings of its kind in Elgin over the summer.

“This is an opportunity that we have downtown that we hopefully can do,” Downtown Neighborhood Association Executive Director Jennifer Fukala told the Chicago Tribune. “It will certainly play a role in bringing customers downtown if we’re able to move forward with this."

While there are hopes that it can reopen in June, it is guaranteed that it would have to be held at a smaller scale than it previously was before the rise of the coronavirus. 

Fifteen vendors have been accepted as of now, many which are the same vendors that were involved in the past. 

"We’re kind of going back and forth with produce (vendors)...we’ve had a few crafts vendors who understand this may not be the best time for them,” Christina Gonzales, farmers market manager, told the Chicago Tribune.

There will be some big changes to the way that the market is held, such as pre-order and pickup methods for many products to cut down on the physical interaction and to reduce standing in lines which could cause more spread of the virus. 

“Everyone understands when you come to the market, you have masks," Gonzales said. “That’s going to become the new normal, whether it's a vendor or whether it’s a customer.”