{"id":4707,"date":"2020-12-07T17:51:23","date_gmt":"2020-12-07T17:51:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/9thstreetjournal.org\/?p=4707"},"modified":"2023-03-27T15:52:41","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T15:52:41","slug":"altered-but-open-durham-farmers-market-still-connects-vendors-and-patrons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/9thstreetjournal.org\/2020\/12\/07\/altered-but-open-durham-farmers-market-still-connects-vendors-and-patrons\/","title":{"rendered":"Altered but open: Durham Farmers\u2019 Market still connects vendors and patrons"},"content":{"rendered":"
Nearly every Saturday morning since 2007, Durham Farmers\u2019 Market transformed Durham Central Park. <\/span> \n<\/span> \n<\/span>Usually, vendors rolled into Central Park Pavilion early, 6 or 7 a.m.\u00a0 From vans, trucks and cars they unloaded tents, tables and stands to display squashes, greens, breads, jewelry and more local fare. <\/span>By 8 a.m. customers arrived, quickly spawning a crowded mass that mingled, dashed and clumped, like ants navigating their mound.\u00a0 <\/span> \n<\/span> \n<\/span>That charming, chaotic ritual came to an abrupt end on Saturday, March 21. No vendors, no shoppers until May.<\/span> \n<\/span><\/p>\n
In between, the market had to overcome a turnover in its leadership and hatch a new COVID-style way of doing business.<\/span> \n<\/span> \n<\/span>Despite significant changes, the market remains a place where people connect.<\/span> \n<\/span> \n<\/span>\u201cIt just feels really important to be here,\u201d said Izzy Pezzulo, a vendor for Red Trail Grains. \u201cNot only to be making the money that you need to continue farming, but also to just show up for the community and feed people in a way that feels safer to them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n