SALT LAKE CITY — A summer tradition is returning as the downtown Salt Lake City Farmers Market kicks off this weekend at Pioneer Park.
The market will be back at full strength after being scaled down during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"More than 90 art and craft vendors on the south side, about 150 food vendors on the north side," said Alison Einerson, the executive director of Urban Food Connections of Utah, which puts on the weekly event.
Governor Spencer Cox joined the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Alliance in welcoming the event back. The governor, himself a farmer in Sanpete County, said that locally sourced foods help Utah's economy.
"It helps with the supply chain issue, makes sure we can support our farmers, ranchers and artisans. So that we can keep those businesses alive," said Gov. Cox. "We’ve learned through the pandemic how important local food is for our state. Supporting them ensures they’re around for another year."
The pandemic, drought and inflation have certainly had an impact on local farmers.
"We're trying to keep our prices down and hopefully everyone will agree we have done that," said Ronnie Murphy, who runs R & A Hydroponics and sells at the downtown farmers market.
This year, the operators of the Downtown Salt Lake City Farmers Market are taking over the Liberty Park market on Thursday nights. There are more than 20 different farmers markets scattered across the state.
