The Duluth Farmer’s Market has been operating since 1911. Photo courtesy of Duluth Farmer’s Market Instagram page

Farmers have been struggling to keep afloat this season and are missing some of their most reliable customers due to the coronavirus pandemic and its ongoing challenges.

Without support from the community, Duluth farmers will not be able to provide fresh and healthy produce for families in Duluth and surrounding North Shore areas.

The Duluth Farmers Market and Duluth locals have been supporting local farmers for over 100 years, and aren’t going to let a worldwide pandemic change that.

Peggy Sobczak, an independent vendor for the Duluth Farmers Market since 1996, admits to the struggle that all the vendors have been facing this year.

“Not as many of the regular customers are even coming,” Sobczak said.

Vendors need to have at least 75% of agriculture at their booths, but as the cold winters come and crops start to freeze, many of the farmers tend to get crafty.

According to their website, Duluth Farmer’s Market offers a variety of fruits, vegetables, transplants, flowers, meats, honey, dairy and preserves, along with baked goods and crafts. Photo courtesy of Duluth Farmer’s Market Instagram page

Sobczak’s booth is made up of homemade earrings, cloth masks and other crafts that are helping her finish off the season.

Even though this year has been a struggle for many local businesses and farmers, Sobczak is thankful for the high demand for her face masks.

“[They] carried me through,” Sobczak said.

Face masks may have been a saving grace for Sobczak, but beekeeper Mark Walters kept his booming business going by selling his normal products in an online web store on top of being a vendor at the farmers market.

“There are a lot of people doing online sales … so we have been getting quite a bit of that business,” Walters said. “I think that [it] is just people having needs, they don’t want to go out.”

When asked about the importance of local support, Walters confirmed how important having support not only from the Duluth community but from other neighboring cities was to the vendors at the Duluth Farmers Market.

“Building relationships with people is what makes it go,” Walters said.

Not only is it rewarding for these local farmers to get to know and befriend their customers, but it can really help them grow their businesses.

Hermantown local Kathy Ide has been attending the Duluth Farmers Market for the past 20 years and agrees that it is important to support local farmers and other smaller businesses.

“We should do more support of our local places, whether they are restaurants or farmers markets,” Ide said. “The farmers really are having a hard time now and they always really have. It is hard to live off the land and make a living.”

The Duluth Farmers Market season ended on Oct. 31, but will be back to serve the community in mid-May. Their Festival of the Season will be held Saturday, Nov. 7 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Visit their website to register for a shopping time.

Supporting local farmers and the community of Duluth during the pandemic