By STACEY PAGE
Editor
[email protected]

Center Street in downtown Warsaw will be closed from Buffalo and Lake streets tomorrow morning as the Kosciusko County Farmers Market LLC makes a move.

For the first time in its history, the farmers market will be held in downtown Warsaw where vendors will sell their locally grown produce and their hand-crafted items. Kegan Burns, president of the KCFM LLC, is excited about the new location saying it opens up a whole new perspective for the city.

The farmers market, which was always held in the northwest corner of the Kosciusko County Community Fair grounds, was approached by the city and asked to move downtown. The plan, according to Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer, is to have the market utilize the plaza area outside of the old National City Bank building. That building, which is now being refurbished and will soon be the new city hall building, will also have a newly designed plaza where the city hopes to host even more events.

While tomorrow’s farmers market will likely only have a handful of vendors due to the season – there is not yet a lot of produce available in Kosciusko County – Burns says the KCFM LLC group has just under 40 members and expects greater participation as the summer months continue.

To be a member and be able to serve as a vendor during the Saturday morning farmers markets in downtown Warsaw, Burns says a member application and $5 annual fee is required. Each time a vendor sets up to sell goods, there is a minimal $3 fee. The purpose of the fees is to assure that members are honoring the city’s rules and regulations that produce – be it fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, etc. – are grown in Kosciusko County and that even craft items are made by local residents.

The Kosciusko County Farmers Market LLC’s first event is tomorrow, May 5, from 8 a.m. to noon. The market will be held every Saturday through October in the same location. A grand opening event is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 2.

For more information, “Like” the Kosciusko County Farmers Market’s Facebook page.