If everything goes without a hitch, Auburn's Farmers Market will kick off on schedule in June.

But the question of where is not yet clear.

Vendors peddle their wares on the sidewalk outside of Wegmans each year, but construction crews are working on that corner as part of the downtown improvement project.

The workers will finish pouring concrete in the sidewalk along East Genesee Street near Loop Road this week, and now have to lay the decorative brick work along the edge. Superintendent of Engineering Services William Lupien predicts workers can finish installing the bricks within a week - once they have them.

The construction crews are waiting for bricks. Rizzo will give the brick work to a subcontractor. Those workers will install a five-foot band of bricks from the curb up. However, bricks will cover the main corners, said Steve DeBottis project manager for Rizzo Construction.

DeBottis hopes the brick layers won't take more than a week. The beginning goes more slowly because they are getting used to the patterns.

“We're trying our hardest to get the job done by then, but if not, the city has been working on a contingency plan,” DeBottis said.

Planning and Economic Development Director Jennie Haines said her department is working with the organization to find an alternative location if needed that would work for the market.

The annual market is a hot topic at the weekly downtown construction project meetings.

Everyone is aware of the situation, and working to make sure the event goes off without problems.

Lupien added that Rizzo doesn't want that street corner shut down any more than citizens do.

Besides having to disrupt traffic, they have to maintain the safety barriers there.

“Every time a barrel gets knocked down, they have to send someone to put it back up,” Lupien said.

Auburn Farmers Market organizers have planned to kick off this season's market on Tuesday, June 5.

A nutritionist is slated to speak, and Co-op Extension representatives will present demonstrations.

Organizers will also give away a basket of fresh vegetables.

The market will remain open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from June 5 through Tuesday, Oct. 30.

To learn more

For more information about farmers markets in the area, check out the Wednesday, May 30, edition of The Citizen for a sampling of different markets.