The Menifee County Farmers Market started planning their 2020 Market Season long before we heard the words Covid 19.  Opening date was set for the earliest it had ever been, Mid May.  With Covid 19 creating havoc in the state of Kentucky a plan went into place to make sure that the market was safe for the vendors as well as the consumers.  Market leadership contacted the local health department and local officials to have a special egg sale early in April as well as plan to open the market in May.  To minimize stress and confusion at the market Menifee County Agents and market vendors filmed a market shopping video with how the market would be set up as well as rules they would have to follow at the market.   

With the help of the vendors and extension office staff an online preordering system was created.  Vendors sent the ANR Agent pictures, inventory, and prices of what items they wanted to offer at the market.  ANR agent created an order form with a google form and the form was shared on Facebook.  All orders were finalized by Wednesday at noon.  Vendors order list were sent to them by Thursday morning.  Consumers picked up their pre-orders during market times in front of the Menifee County Extension Office.  With 3 weeks of pre orders sales $1200 were obtained.  After the first 3 weeks of market sales restrictions eased at the market and vendors took over their own pre-orders.  Vendors were amazed how the system worked.