The 2020 farmers market season is just about done. The weather is getting colder. Normally, markets move indoors where weather is a concern.
Anecdotally, some of the local markets are staying longer outdoors as a transition. The concern is that some vendors won't have product and other vendors made plans that don't include a few more weeks outdoors.
The 3 extra weeks look good but the weather will determine their viability.
Our major indoor winter market ran great numbers in November and December. The transition from 6-7 indoor markets to 3 uncertain outdoor markets spells financial concerns. A lack of viable indoor spaces means lost income for months during the winter.
Farmers markets could continue indoors with a lot more space. We've seen basketball and hockey arenas offered up for voting access, a wonderful idea. These arenas would make for a great farmers market space in the winter. Well, maybe too much space. A monthly farmers market could help some vendors get through a rough winter.
I've been to farmers market inside small music clubs. Could be a way to make some money for the venues and vendors.
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"Don't touch nothing. Don't touch anything." My impression of Sgt. Schultz (from Hogan's Heroes) if he was in charge of security at a farmers market. The 2020 general consensus is don't touch a thing at a farmers market.
A local farmers market changed its rules about halfway through the season where they required patrons to be sprayed down with what we hope was hand sanitizer. Almost every farmers market had hand sanitizer as an option; hand sanitizer being in an authorized container.
Hand sanitizer is important if you are potentially touching something in making a purchase. The local feminist bookstore wants people to use hand sanitizer in an official container. This is because you could easily touch one of the books.
When confronted with this new policy, the volunteer said hand sanitizer had always been required. That wasn't true. I asked if the policy was posted. She said yes, but didn't know where. (We learned later that the policy was outside the gates).
I walked away in frustration. I came back to that market a couple of weeks later. I was told that someone had to spray my hands to enter the market. I asked if that was required. That volunteer told me that it was a city ordinance (another lie). I reluctantly agreed to be sprayed. I asked another volunteer inside about the policy. She told me the hand sanitizer had been a requirement all summer (the original lie).
Safety can be taken to an extreme as we have learned in so many cases. Offering hand sanitizer, official hand sanitizer, is a smart action in a pandemic. Requiring "hand sanitizer" is rather extreme, especially when you aren't allowed to touch anything.
Volunteers shouldn't lie to the customers. All of this is bad enough without the lies, but the lying makes the situation much worse.
Inside a farmers market in the new normal in the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic
Farmers markets in the new normal in the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic
Will COVID-19 play a role with farmers markets?
Here are some creative ideas if the winter markets are not an option where you live.
— Bring extra reusable bags to the last few farmers markets and stock up for the winter. Buy extra pickles. More bread that you can freeze.
— Take some of those late summer and early fall veggies and do some pickling and canning to make them last through the winter.
— Find local stores that carry farmers products. You might already have this as one of your food options. I am thankful I have one less than a mile from where I live.
— Find out if your local farmer will make trips near where you live. This is really helpful for meat and egg suppliers. They sometimes will set up shop at or near the market location. This might be available 1-2 times a month but better than no market at all. Ask them if they will provide that service.
— If you are already getting deliveries from local farmers, such as CSAs (community supported agriculture), keep getting them.
I buy blueberries in July to have over the winter. I had doubts about whether we would make it to winter. I would have felt foolish to not them.
Preserving your pandemic harvest? Start slow with something you love, say experts (The Current from CBC Radio One)
BalanceofFood.com farmers market coverage
Did we miss a good suggestion or two on how to survive the winter without a farmers market? Let us know in the comments section. Thank you.
photo credit: me
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