Bloomington will get its third summer farmers' market this weekend, when organizers of a local winter market will gather more than 25 vendors outside The Woolery Mill.
The Bloomington Winter Farmers' Market will open 'BWFM in the Summer' this Saturday with many vendors that have previously attended the City of Bloomington's Saturday farmers' market, which is ongoing. Both markets take place Saturday mornings.
One of those vendors is Living Roots Farm and Sustainable Living Center. In a Facebook post, Living Roots wrote that the farm is one of "many" farms that are leaving the city market, which was plagued with controversy last summer after allegations of one vendor's white supremacist ideologies evolved into a greater debate about free speech, racism and personal safety in public places.
The accused vendor, Schooner Creek Farm, is still selling at the Bloomington Community Farmers' Market this season. Schooner Creek Farm co-owner Sarah Dye has admitted to being an Identitarian, an ideology which researchers say is largely xenophobic and anti-diversity.
"As many of you know, there have been major problems with racism and white supremacists at the old Bloomington City Farmers Market," Living Roots' Facebook post said. "No longer!"
The People's Market on the east side of town was created in protest of the city's handling of the Schooner Creek Farm debacle.
Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton has said that the city cannot ban Schooner Creek Farm from the city market because it would a violation of the First Amendment.
Activists have since called for the formation of a private market specifically to avoid any Constitutional issues.
READ MORE: Bloomingfoods East To Hold Private Farmers' Market Saturday
Other vendors from the city market that will be selling at BWFM in the Summer include Piccoli Dolci, Hunters Honey Farm and 3 Dogs And A Mom.
It's not known at this time whether all the vendors listed will be pulling out of the city farmers' market to join this market instead.
BWFM in the Summer runs from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturdays at The Woolery Mill, 2250 W Sunstone Dr. in Bloomington.
