A fixture in the Bountiful community will be back again this summer, as Bountiful’s Farmers Market is set to start on Thursday, June 10. It will be held each Thursday evening through Oct. 7 at the Bountiful Town Square and 100 South. The market will run from 3 p.m. to dusk. 

Unlike in years past, the City of Bountiful will operate this year’s Farmers Market. That isn’t the long-range plan for the event, but will be how it functions for the next two to three years as part of a “trial run.”

“It is our hope that the City will operate the Farmers Market [until] it can be spun off as its own operation with a unique non-profit status,” said city parks director Brock Hill in a staff report to city council. His report outlined a number of different areas where city staff will coordinate efforts for this year’s market, including permits and licenses, vendor outreach and recruiting, advertising and social media, and operations.

The Bountiful Farmers Market ran for many years in the same area, but was moved to 400 North Park while construction began on the Bountiful Town Square. It moved back to the 100 South location last year, but was scaled back in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Main Street Merchants Association managed the market, which served as a fundraiser for the organization. It’s 501c3 status lapsed (non-profit status) and the city took over operations mid- season last year. 

Hill said plans call for expansion of the number of farmers and vendors this year, along with adding 3-4 food trucks and possibly live entertainment on the stage at the Town Square. Rebecca Hatch, the city’s Community Affairs Specialist, will work with the vendors. She said volunteers to help with the market’s operations are also needed and appreciated.

For vendors, fees are $15 per week for farmers, $20 for craft vendors and $25 for food vendors. Vendors can pay weekly upon sign-in or make an annual payment with fees the same as last year.

More information is available on the city website at bountifuutah.gov.