Farmers markets are exempt from the closure of many restaurants and bars, but they’re making adjustments in this unprecedented and challenging time.
When the St. Paul Farmers Market in Lowertown opens outdoors in late April, it’s usually a relaxed, welcome symbol of the freshness and promise of spring.
This year it’s taking its market outdoors tomorrow, an exemption to the closing of thousands of restaurants and bars.
“Farmers markets are grocery stores,” David Kotsonas, St. Paul Farmers Market director and board member of the Minnesota Farmers Market Association said. “Farmers markets are a vital piece of food access, especially in an area like Lowertown, if you live near the market and don’t have the car, there Lunds, but that’s kind of a hike and that’s really the only thing that’s around. It’s really important that farmers markets stay open.
But organizers are changing plans this weekend. The Mill City Farmers Market, for example, is offering pre-order pick-up. The St. Paul Farmers’ Market is making these changes: There will also be no food sampling or on-site eating; They’re reserving the first hour from 8:30 to 9:30 for shoppers who are at high risk; There will be a hand-washing station in addition to bathroom sinks, and a focus on social distancing.
“You’ll have an empty table in front of the customers,” Kotsonas said. “Behind that empty table will be the table with the vendors’ products and behind that table will be the vendor, so having like a clean zone between the customers and the products.”
Kotsonas says it’s also beneficial for vendors who get to maintain some steady income unlike thousands of food service workers. He says they’ll be observing the first weekend and possibly making changes to maintain safety.