Volunteers deliver orders to customers in cars at the Farmers Park-It on Academy Street behind the Hotel Saranac in Saranac Lake in spring. (Provided photo — Yvona Fast)

SARANAC LAKE — For the last few years, the Saturday village farmers market has migrated inside when the temperature dropped, from Riverside Park to the atrium of the Hotel Saranac.

This year, as one more thing that’s changed because of the pandemic, the farmers market will move to a curb-side pickup model.

Beginning with the Oct. 17 Saturday market, you’ll have to order your pumpkins, leeks and garlic online by Thursday in order to pick them up outside the Hotel Saranac on Saturday. This will continue all the way until May 31, at which point the outdoor market will reopen.

“There would usually be a gap around April when there was nothing,” said Saranac Lake Farmers Market board member Kelly Hofschneider, who also said the hotel atrium just didn’t provide enough room for both farmers and shoppers to safely operate. The “Farmers Park-it” model is safer, though it won’t provide quite the neighborly feeling that even a masked outdoor market gives.

Anywhere from 10 to 15 farmers, all market regulars, will attend the Winter Market this year.

“It’s a lot of work for the farmers,” said Hofschneider, but so far there aren’t any volunteers needed, as the idea is to keep the operation streamlined to ensure safe movement. All you’ll have to do is drive up, and folks will load your car with your purchases.

Online order forms will be available on the farmers market website at www.ausablevalleygrangefarmersmarkets.com.