The Butler City Farmers' Market is opening bright and early May 23 with COVID-19 mask-wearing and social-distancing rules in place.

Those restrictions will come at the cost of the social aspects of the market, said Bob Dandoy, market manager and a member of Butler City Council.

“This has become a place where people cannot only get fresh vegetables and meats, it's a place where they can congregate and meet their neighbors,” Dandoy said. “That social aspect of the market will be missing. The market is just another casualty to that.”

Music typically played when the market is open will not be provided this year. Cooking demonstrations are out. Customers will be asked not to linger.

Open stalls will separate the eight or nine vendors that committed to attending as of last week. Hand sanitizer will be available inside the building on South Chestnut Street.

Empty tables will be used to separate vendors and customers. Customers will be allowed to view products, but not handle them unless they buy them, Dandoy said.

Once a customer selects a product, the vendor will put it in a bag and place it on the table. The customer then places money on the table to pay and the vendor puts the change on the table. Most vendors don't accept credit cards, but a few of them do, he said.

It's too early in the growing season for tomatoes and corn, but farmers and other vendors will sell fresh meats, homemade baked goods, eggs, vegetable and flowering plants, popcorn, jelly, jam and sauces.

“One of the strengths of a farmers market is the consumer knows where the product comes from and who prepared it,” Dandoy said. “It's from farm to you. It's always been the strength of the market. An uninterrupted food chain for consumers.”

Customers line up for the cookies, pies, sweet breads and fudge that Betty Hinderliter of Butler has been selling at the market for 11 years.

“My orange cookies are my biggest seller. I make 150 to 200 a week,” Hinderliter said. “I make about 20 different cookies. It takes up my whole summer, but I enjoy it.”

She said she's glad the market opening wasn't delayed due to the virus.

“I'm looking forward to it. We've got some guidelines. We have to wear masks, of course,” Hinderliter said. “I've been going now about 11 years and it has grown immensely.”

Joe Bozelli, who serves on the farmers' market committee and sells products from his 5 Elements Farm in Worthington, Armstrong County, said even though customers won't be allowed to linger, he will answer questions about his products and how to prepare them.

“I'll have everything laid out. We'll handle the produce and bag it and give it to them after they pay,” Bozelli said. “We're all anxious. This year is particularly difficult. One of the concerns — are people going to show up? I'm just hoping people show up.”

He said he will bring vegetable plants, eggs, popcorn and other products to the market.

His organically-grown vegetables — such as tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, various beans, squash and cabbage that will ripen over the summer — are the best available, he said.

The market will be open every Saturday starting May 23 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.