FAIRMONT – While the location has changed from the Five Lakes Centre Mall parking lot to the Bomgaars parking lot, the same excitement for the season is being felt by those with the Fairmont Farmers Market, which starts on Saturday, June 13.

Coordinator Doug Abel said the move happened due to new ownership at the mall.

“It changed owners, and the new owner has decided not to let the farmers market back in,” he said. “We were kind of forced to pick a different place.”

After a period of discussion and plenty of thought, Bomgaars was chosen as the new location. So far, Abel said they have been able to make sure people know the change has been made.

“It seems to be getting out there pretty well,” he said. “The question I get is, why did you have to move, so they know it then. I’m assuming a lot of it has to do with the article in the Sentinel and stuff; that’s going to help immensely. Anytime you change locations, it’ll take some time to figure it out.”

Given they are in a new place, Abel said their setup will have elements of both the old and the new.

“They can get in from the access road on the west or through the Bomgaars parking lot,” he said. “We’ve decided that we’ll be set up running east and west, two rows like we were in the mall.”

As for the vendors they’ll have this year, it often can change from one opening to another, but Coordinator Rachel Tenney said a lot of the usuals will be back.

“Granada Gardens, Abel Family Gardens, myself, which is Moon Mystic Cottage, Butter Babes, Farmside Floral, Atypical Acres, Soldier Creek Goats, Shoen Holdfast Farm, Chelsea’s Kytchen,” she said. “There are a few others that join us by showing up at the beginning of the season and throughout the season.”

Even so, Tenney said they still have plenty of room for people, and Abel said currently there is no cap on how many they’ll take.

“We would love for others that are creating handmade goods to join us, as there are only a couple of us that do currently,” Tenney said.

In addition to this, Abel said they are pretty open about what can be brought to the farmers market.

“As long as it’s something that makes a little bit of sense,” he said. “There’s people that do crafts that will be there. The Shoens will be there with their beef products. There’s usually all kinds of baked goods. There’s things like eggs. I know there’s usually honey there, things like that.”

There is one new piece the farmers market has added this year, which will open whole new opportunities up for local artisans.

“We also have some speakers now for playing music for entertainment, as well as a mic and stand if anyone is interested in sharing their talents,” Tenney said. “Appropriate for a farmers market, of course.”

Abel said they will also be running a kids and seniors program, but they are looking for more donations to help ensure it can run its full course.

“They are tokens the kids get every market they show up to, until we run out of funding, of course,” Abel said. “That’s why we’re trying to find more, as we usually run out. They get $2 in blue kids tokens to spend at the market on produce. The senior program, they get a green $4 token for every market they show up to, if they want it, and they can spend that on produce.”

Some special events have also already been planned. Tenney said Cheezers will be there opening day, June 13; certain openings throughout the summer will have kids activities and Sept. 26 is tentatively planned to have activities run by the Martin County Library.

“I encourage the public to follow our Facebook page as that is where we post updates that pertain to special activities and food trucks,” she said.

Overall, Abel said pretty much all of the setup work is already done, and they are set and ready to go for opening day.

For more information or to inquire about openings at or donations to the farmer’s market, visit facebook.com/fairmontMNfarmersmarket, linktr.ee/fairmontmnfarmersmarket, or call Doug Abel at 507-236-3129, Rachel Tenney at 507-514-9195, or Bob VonHoldt at 507-848-5176.