Business was slow Saturday at the Hitching Lot Farmers' Market in Columbus. Partly because it's early in the season and partly because of safety precautions implemented to guard against the spread of COVID-19, farmers' markets are off to an unusually slow start this year. Market directors are still optimistic that business will pick up during the peak months of June and July. Photo by: Slim Smith/Dispatch Staff Even by the usual standards, business has been slow at the Golden Triangle’s two largest farmers’ markets, as market directors, vendors and customers are taking a cautious approach during the COVID-19 pandemic.