Before the Market Wakes – May 2026

By Robin Long

There is a moment each market morning that belongs only to a few of us.

The lot is empty. It’s quiet, and the air still carries the cool hush of sunrise.

I usually arrive before most everyone else. Before the music. Before the crowds. Before the smells of breakfast sandwiches and grilled foods drift across the pavement. Before baskets overflow with tomatoes and flowers and herbs.

And honestly? This may be my favorite part of the entire day.

One by one, headlights begin pulling in. A farmer backs into their spot. Someone unloads buckets of flowers. Tables unfold. Tent legs click into place. A sleepy “good morning” travels across the lot.

Then comes the magic.

Coolers open. Fresh bread appears. Pickles are unpacked. Plants are watered. Coffee starts brewing. Oils begin warming on grills and flat tops. The air changes. You can smell basil before you see it. Fresh dill, lavender, fruit, smoked meats, soap, coffee, spices. The unmistakable scent of hard work mixed with hope.

And within what feels like minutes, the empty lot disappears entirely.

What was just asphalt transforms into something alive.

A marketplace.

Not just a place to shop, but a temporary little village built from early mornings, tired hands, creativity, resilience, and people brave enough to chase a dream one market day at a time.

What makes it even more special is knowing this feeling is shared by the people who helped build these markets alongside us. Jeanette Scott Moler of Great Harvest Bread, one of our beloved legacy participating businesses who has been with us since the very beginning, described it perfectly:

“One of the things I love most about my job is watching an empty parking lot come to life on Farmers Market mornings. In just a few hours, a space with no personality transforms into a vibrant community filled with fresh bread, local vendors, music, smiles, and neighbors connecting with each other. There’s something really special about being part of creating that energy every week.”

And she’s absolutely right. There is an energy to market mornings that’s hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it firsthand. Long before customers arrive, before the music starts, before the first purchase is made, there’s a beautiful window of time when you can feel the heartbeat of the market beginning.

Every participating business arrives carrying something bigger than inventory. They carry stories, recipes, family traditions, risk, passion, bills they are trying to pay, and goals they are trying to reach.

A belief that what they create matters.

And together, somehow, week after week, we transform an empty parking lot into something meaningful.

A place where neighbors reconnect, kids dance to live music, recipes are shared, first businesses are launched, regulars become friends, and community is cultivated in real time.

To every farmer, maker, baker, grower, cook, artist, musician, volunteer, customer, and supporter who helps bring these mornings to life:

Thank you for helping us create this happy place.