IT’S SPREADING: A market model established by the Whitewater Tavern is spreading this Saturday to North Little Rock.

The coming return to restaurant dining is one thing. The arriving spring crop of fresh produce is another.

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The pandemic response has restricted grocery store produce supplies and disrupted the many farmers’ markets in Arkansas. Many have stopped operating.

But there are efforts to fill the gap.

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North Little Rock businessman John Gaudin will open a market this Saturday on the parking lot he owns next to the Argenta library at 406 Main Street, North Little Rock.

It will pick up where the Whitewater Tavern Market (also known as the Punk Rock Market) took off (and will continue again this Saturday). The vendors will be spaced. People will wear masks. They will abide by this state guidance for farmers’ markets.

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Gaudin’s plan is for two hours of the market, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Some vendors will then move on to the Whitewater market, which opens at 11 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m.

Gaudin EMPHASIZES: All should carefully follow distancing rules.

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As Stephanie Smittle wrote yesterday, the North Little Rock market will be small by design, limited to five vendors.

And she also reported that the Bernice Garden market on South Main will return Sunday with select vendors from whom items can be pre-ordered for pickup.

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