New state and town guidelines will have major impact on how markets can operate

By Jude Mead

The Norfolk Farmer’s Market will not be opening in May. This is no ordinary farmers market season because of Covid-19. According to Bryan Hurlburt, the commissioner for the Department of Agriculture, farmers markets have always been an important access point for many families across the state to get fresh food. This year is different, though. “Farmer’s markets are considered essential, but this is not a normal year so people can’t expect what they experienced in previous years. You can’t put a round peg into a square hole,” said Hurlburt.

Hurlburt emphasized that even if markets do open at some point in the season, they won’t be run the same as before. The virus outbreak and its continued threat have forced the state to issue guidelines about how farmers markets can operate in the midst of the pandemic. “We have developed a guidance document that has been shared with our list of market masters across the state. It covers many safety guidelines,” said Hurlburt.

 Some towns have also added their own strict guidelines to those of the state to make sure patrons and vendors are safe. The guideline list is long, and many markets are struggling with how to comply. The Norfolk market is among them. According to Matt Riiska, the town’s first selectman, the decision not to open the market in May was a difficult one. “We know that people want their fresh food, but the safety of our community is important,” said Riiska. 

He agreed that the guidelines are necessary, but they do change the way the market would operate. “All those requirements are needed to protect our community, so we need to rethink the market,” he added. The guidelines include practicing proper social distancing, eliminating product samples, minimizing the number of people (patrons and vendors) touching produce, disallowing the use of reusable bags, sanitizing market displays and tables, providing hand-washing and sanitation stations, wearing gloves and masks when handling produce and minimizing cash transactions. Others stipulations are no pets, one-way pedestrian traffic, no loitering; and each station should have two vendors, one to handle money and one to handle produce. 

While everyone agrees that the number one priority is to keep everyone safe, instituting these guidelines would be tricky and could lead to added expense, with sanitation stations and additional assistance if needed. This pandemic is forcing farmers market administrators to reimagine what their markets will look like in 2020. Lisa Auclair, chair of the Norfolk Farmers Market Committee, and her committee are working together with the town to look at alternative ways to get the food to the customers.

Auclair provided the following statement: 

“At this time, there is not a whole lot to report on. The committee is talking daily and meeting every other week via Zoom to sort through all the available options to farmers markets these days. They include running a ‘social distance’ market following the guidelines provided by the Department of Agriculture. There are also online options, where either markets advertise individual vendors’ products for preorder and pickup at their respective businesses, or the farmers markets themselves set up preorders for their vendors with a drive-through or even delivery option.

“I am encouraged by the amount of camaraderie between market managers. I have spoken with some myself and joined video conferences that are offering advice to those markets that wish to continue. Every market is different, however, so we are still in the midst of figuring out what is best for our model that would ensure safety for our vendors and our customers.

“Sadly, some markets will fold. I am very thankful for my committee’s as well as our selectman’s time and efforts in working through this challenge. We would also like the community to know that we are so thankful for their financial support. I am optimistic that we will operate in some manner by the time our growing season is at its height. As always, we welcome any feedback. If anyone is interested in assisting us, please contact me at lisaauclair@sbcglobal.net.”