Farmers market returns after last year's surprising success
Last year, the organizers of the Butler City Farmers' Market told vendors they might not get the amount of sales they would in a non-pandemic year.
However, it ended up being one of the most popular and successful years in the history of the market, with many people attending simply because it was one of the only ways they could spend a weekend out.
“We were really shocked last year,” said Bob Dandoy, the market's manager. “I think it was for two reasons. One is the people were looking for healthy food. The other thing is it was the one place that had some semblance of normality. It was still going on, you could see your neighbors there.”
The market returns Saturday morning for its first event of the season, and Dandoy said he hopes the people who found something they liked in the market last year come back again.
The Butler City Farmers' Market has been held annually for many years, Dandoy said, but it was only a few years ago that the Butler Downtown organization fixed up a facility behind the courthouse for it to be held.According to Dandoy, there will be some new vendors at the market this year, but the main attraction will still be the farmers selling produce and crops, and some that even sell proteins.“The centerpiece of our market is the farmers,” Dandoy said. “We have several who have been with us for quite some time. Five or six sell actual produce, and we have some that sell meats and beef.”In the past, the farmers market has hosted musical artists performing throughout the duration of each market. But Dandoy said this is a feature that may have to wait awhile to bring back.
However, Dandoy said anyone can likely find something they enjoy at the market because of the variety of vendors and the general atmosphere in the facility each Saturday morning.“It's one of those things a lot of people don't know about — but when they do find out, they're surprised,” Dandoy said.The first Butler City Farmers' Market takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at 205 S. Cunningham St. in Butler, down the hill behind the Butler County Courthouse.The market will be held every Saturday through the end of October, and more information can be found on the organization's Facebook page.
