Photo submitted to Times Observer There weren’t as many vendors at the 2020 Farmers Market, but it was a successful year for the ones that were there. The market opens for the 2021 season on Saturday, June 19.

There are several good reasons to go to Farmers Market in Warren.

“It’s direct farm-to-consumer sales,” vendor and board member Tom Frair said. “You can’t get any fresher than that. Often you know the vendors themselves. You trust them.”

“Our prices are comparable to grocery store prices,” Frair said.

“It’s also a social event,” he said. “Friends see friends and get to visit in a very relaxed atmosphere.”

Farmers Market opens at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 19, at Midtown Parking Lot in Warren.

Weather permitting, it will be held every Saturday, including July 3, from 8 a.m. to noon through Oct. 30.

The past year has been hard on many ventures. For Farmers Market, there were fewer vendors, but those who stuck it out were rewarded.

“Last year, the COVID thing probably had some effect on vendor participation,” Frair, who has been a vendor for over 20 years, said. “As far as the vendors that did participate, I think we all had excellent years.”

“People were not traveling,” he said. “It’s an outside venue. It was very easy for people to social distance. It was a good year for us.”

Still, the market could use more vendors and the board is hoping to see many return and some new faces.

Anyone who would like to give it a try needs to be aware of the rules.

“Our rule is that 80 percent of your products must be home-grown, home-produced, or home-made,” Frair said. “A vendor wanting to participate for the season – cost is $50. If somebody wants to try it out, we’ll allow them to pay $5 a week up to $50 when they can stay for the rest of the year.”

Prospective vendors may make contact through Warren County Farmers Market Facebook. “Our secretary-treasurer will be back in touch,” Frair said.

There are many products available at the market — from fruits and vegetables, to flowers, to herbs, to crafts.

“Fresh cut flowers — in-season horticultural products, local honey and maple syrup, there will be some craft vendors, maybe home-made soaps and lip balms,” Frair said. “Later in the season … fruits. We had one vendor last year come from Northeast with fruits.”

Those who attend the first few markets won’t see the selection that will arrive later on.

“Early in the season, there might not be the full complement of vendors, stuff is just not ready yet,” he said. “Don’t be discouraged.”

Early on, the featured produce will be “lettuces, radishes, and green onions.”

Later, the emphasis will move to broccoli, green beans, and peas.

“Mid-summer to late summer the vendors have sweet corn,” Frair said. Also, tomatoes and peppers.

Finally, in the fall, “crops like squash and pumpkins, and potatoes,” he said.

“You’ll typically see something new each week as they become ready for market,” Frair said.

There are some other costs, depending on the products to the sold. There is $40 fee through the City of Warren for those who sell food that requires refrigeration – including meat and eggs.

That cuts into many producers’ ability to sell eggs, Frair said.

“The profit margin on a dozen eggs is so slim that the egg tax makes that prohibitive,” he said.

The board has had discussions with city officials and is hoping the ‘egg tax’ will be repealed.