Tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh fruit and more – the Geary Community Hospital (GCH) Farmers Market opens tomorrow, Thursday, June 1st.

Nikki Davies, GCH Marketing Director, said that a large turnout is expected tomorrow afternoon.

“The market runs from 4 to 7 pm in the front parking lot of the hospital; usually, it’s very busy from 4 to 5 when people are getting off work and on their way home,” said Davies. “We’re expecting a great turnout tomorrow.”

Davies said that the idea to facilitate a farmers market came from hospital CEO Dr. Joe Stratton in wanting to address the food insecurity concerns in the community.

“This is one way that we can address [it] and be a part of the solution; so this farmer’s market kind of just started as  his brain child…and has now transitioned to kind of being the ‘place to be’ on a Thursday afternoon in the summer.”

Last year the EBT system for SNAP families was added to the market, and this year up to $3000 in funds will be matched for those using that benefit.

“For our SNAP families, this is a really great benefit to utilize their tokens as well as double up their food dollars up to $25,” said Davies. “So they will spend $25 of their own SNAP tokens and then we can match that with another $25 to be spent at the market; it’s a win-win situation for our families as well as our farmers.”

The farmers market features a variety of local vendors that will increase further into the summer months.

“Just make sure to come out and support your local vendors, your local farmers – get to know them, it’s always great to know where your produce is coming from and how to prepare things too,” said Davies. “Our vendors, our farmers are very friendly and like to help and give advice as well.”

The farmers market will be every Thursday, beginning tomorrow – June 1st – from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the front parking lot of Geary Community Hospital.