COVINGTON, Ky. — A slice of normal with a lot of precaution. The Covington Farmer’s Market has hit the great outdoors -- including a list of rules, hand-washing stations and spray-painted flowers meant to keep up that six feet of social distancing.
It’s enough to make Mike Wendling happy.
“I got the mask on but I want to smile,” Wendling said. “We wanted to be where the community needed us.”
Wendling is filling the community’s need for wine, selling products from Stonebrook Winery.
Kelly Brown from Locust Ridge Organics brings her produce to the table.
“This is where I sell most, almost everything that I grow,” Brown said.
Staples like wine and produce are to be expected at a farmer’s market, but Rose Seeger from KY Girl Hemp is offering products meant to calm anxiety -- especially for seniors.
“They’re shut in, they can’t see their grandchildren, so it’s just really important to ease their anxiety,” Seeger said.
Seeger hasn’t gotten her small business loan yet, forcing her to start paying her employees in cash. It makes her customers that much more important.
Vendors saw a spike in customers Saturday after WCPO's live broadcast at the market. Nick Wade, executive director of Renaissance Covington, said many customers had no idea the market was open.
"We had 347 people come through and many vendors had a record-breaking day," Wade said.
Shopper Melissa Huber was moved by the level of support.
“It makes me teary to see that people are coming to support them,” Huber said.
Huber said she can find everything she needs at the market, including some items that just bring joy.
“Some flowers for my mom."
The Covington Farmer’s Market is located at 3rd Street and Court Street and will be open every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
