The Ohio Farmers Market Network sent out this email with resources and best
practices for farmers markets.
From: Ohio Farmers' Market Management Network
<hello@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:hello@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2020 2:13 PM
Subject: COVID-19 and YOUR Farmers Markets
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COVID-19 and Your Farmers
Markets<https://fmmn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=68fa545c5fa157ecac14d3911&id=b41cbf05fd&e=817ab86aa1>
On Sunday, March 22, 2020, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted,
and Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, M.D. MPH, announced that Ohio
was under a "Stay at Home" order unless engaged in essential work or activity.
To the relief of farmers, food producers and farmers market operators, farmers
markets have been designated as essential under section
12.b.<https://fmmn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=68fa545c5fa157ecac14d3911&id=45fd0a6878&e=817ab86aa1>
With that said, and as long as COVID-19 poses the level of risk we are
currently experiencing, farmers markets must operate under modified conditions.
The rigorous regulations that normally govern farmers markets exist to prevent
the spread of infectious diseases, meaning that you, farmers market managers
and vendors, are well versed and prepared to enact additional precautions.
Farmers market operators, farmers and food producers care deeply about the
communities they serve, and one another. With added precautions, new procedures
and proactive steps to protect market customers, vendors, and staff, a farmers
market is permitted to operate under the essential category identified by
Governor DeWine.
The content in this document has been collected from farmers markets across the
state and the country who are adapting operations to comply with public health
official’s guidance and requirements. The content has not been approved by any
single public health authority, but instead lists methods and tools being used
by those actively managing and selling at farmers markets. As the landscape and
recommendations change, this document will be updated and informed by public
health guidance for grocery and farmers markets, as well as by those market
managers implementing the guidance through operational changes.
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Together with state partners, the Ohio Farmers Market Network recommends
modifying operational conditions including, but not limited to:
* Limit the sale of food to whole, uncut produce and packaged food items.
No on-site food preparation will be allowed.
* All ready-to-eat foods must be pre-packaged before arriving at market.
* No sampling of any food is permitted.
* Limit crowds by staggering entry to provide for social distancing of
customers.
* Require space between vendor stands of at least 6 feet.
* Provide handwashing stations for customers and vendors where possible. At
a minimum, provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol for
customers to use prior to entering market space and throughout.
* Cancel all extracurricular activities including music, children’s
activities, cooking demos, etc.
* Group like items together (ie. all produce, all bread and baked goods,
etc.) to reduce the amount of time searching the market for particular products.
* Ensure that isles are at least 12 feet wide to provide for ample
distancing around vendor spaces.
* Promote alternative sales outlets and methods such as online ordering and
delivery, pre-order for pick up, etc.
* Consider using tape or chalk to indicate 6 foot distances in and
throughout the market space.
* When possible, offer separate operating hours for vulnerable shopping
populations.
Employee, volunteer and vendor policies:
* Sick employees, volunteers and vendors must stay home and not return
until they are free of fever for at least 72 hours without fever-reducing
medication and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of
breath) and, at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
* Those who appear to be ill upon arrival to market or become sick during
the day should be sent home immediately.
* Recommend all vendors wear gloves, regardless of whether or not they
handle food.
* Designate one person to handle food and another person to handle payment
transactions when possible.
* Take the temperature of all employees, volunteers and vendors upon
arrival, confirming that no person has a temperature of more than 100.4°F [38°
C]. If an employee, volunteer or vendor should register a temperature of
100.4°F [38° C], he/she/they will be sent home immediately.
Vendor policies:
* All vendors must sanitize their stands regularly, primarily wiping down
tables, terminals, cash boxes, etc. Familiarize yourself with the CDC
Guidelines<https://fmmn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=68fa545c5fa157ecac14d3911&id=5343329c6b&e=817ab86aa1>
to clean and disinfect surfaces.
* Discontinue use of tablecloths and other porous materials such as baskets.
* Recommend using only materials that can be immediately washed and
sanitized after use.
* Clean your hands frequently, ideally between each customer transaction.
Follow CDC
recommendations<https://fmmn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=68fa545c5fa157ecac14d3911&id=48293aeefc&e=817ab86aa1>
for cleaning your hands.
* Use only new plastic bags for the packaging and sale of goods.
* Promote alternative sales outlets and methods such as online ordering and
delivery, pre-order for pick up, etc.
* Consider purchasing a contactless chip reader to process customer sales.
Customer engagement:
* Customers must stay home and not return until they are free of fever for
at least 72 hours without fever-reducing medication and improvement in
respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) and, at least 7 days
have passed since symptoms first appeared.
* Encourage shoppers to prioritize only essential food purchasing and
discontinue social gatherings.
* Encourage shoppers to send only one member from each household to the
market in order to curtail crowds.
* Encourage shoppers to practice the recommended 6’ social distancing from
one another while at the market.
* Discourage shoppers from touching any products, rather allowing the
vendor to select and bag products customers wish to purchase.
* Clean your hands frequently. Follow CDC recommendations for cleaning your
hands.
* Discontinue use of reusable bags and materials at this time. Accept only
new plastic bags from your farmers and food producers.
* When possible, order directly from farmers and food producers for
delivery or pick-up.
For photo examples of the suggested modifications above, click
here<https://fmmn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=68fa545c5fa157ecac14d3911&id=68dc810184&e=817ab86aa1>.
While your farmers market may choose to remain open, it is not “business as
usual” and modified operations must be implemented. Without the ability to
modify operations, it is strongly recommended that you do not open your market
for the safety and wellbeing of yourself, your vendors and customers, and the
community in general.
Help us communicate with our community, your customers, about your market.
Please take a moment to complete our farmers market
survey<https://fmmn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=68fa545c5fa157ecac14d3911&id=f59b502b6a&e=817ab86aa1>
on your current plans for the 2020 season. We will check in with you again for
updates as the situation changes and the season nears.
FARMERS MARKET
SURVEY<https://fmmn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=68fa545c5fa157ecac14d3911&id=e3171e1a65&e=817ab86aa1>
The Ohio Farmers Market Network is here to support you while also accepting an
obligation to be part of the solution. Please do the same. In the meantime,
join the many local conversations that are happening now in our private
Facebook
group<https://fmmn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=68fa545c5fa157ecac14d3911&id=ba8e7f8921&e=817ab86aa1>
or Ohio Farmers Market Network
list-serv<https://fmmn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=68fa545c5fa157ecac14d3911&id=5ba10dd11c&e=817ab86aa1>.
You may also continue to share your questions and concerns through our
COVID-19 survey
here<https://fmmn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=68fa545c5fa157ecac14d3911&id=887b0ec186&e=817ab86aa1>.
PRIVATE FACEBOOK
GROUP<https://fmmn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=68fa545c5fa157ecac14d3911&id=878f8a1443&e=817ab86aa1>
LIST-SERV - Not a fan of Facebook? Click here to join the Ohio Farmers Market
Network
Forum<https://fmmn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=68fa545c5fa157ecac14d3911&id=0939f24f3f&e=817ab86aa1>.
This list-serv will deliver information directly to your email inbox and
allow you to post questions and answers as you choose.
STATEWIDE
LIST-SERV<https://fmmn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=68fa545c5fa157ecac14d3911&id=d00dfd6455&e=817ab86aa1>
TELL US WHAT YOU NEED - How can we help your farmers market, farm, or business
(or farmers and food producers in general)? We’ve created a short survey to
share with us what you need most. Click here to share your questions, concerns
and
comments.<https://fmmn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=68fa545c5fa157ecac14d3911&id=694beaace0&e=817ab86aa1>
We’ll use this information to search out answers to share with you and your
colleagues.
COVID-19
SURVEY<https://fmmn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=68fa545c5fa157ecac14d3911&id=91383174fb&e=817ab86aa1>
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Show your support for our work and progress towards “sustainable markets and
profitable farmers and food producers.”
Read more about OFMN membership
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