As Santa Cruz County and the State of California move further into the second month of the Shelter in Place Ordinance we at the Farmers’ Markets continue to work hard, creatively and in an informed manner to keep our markets safe, functioning and available to you.
Currently our year-round markets, Downtown Santa Cruz, Westside Santa Cruz and Live Oak, are open. The opening dates for our two seasonal markets, Felton and Scotts Valley, have been postponed to the first week of June.
The Felton Farmers’ Market will begin June 2 and the Scotts Valley Market will open its doors on June 6. This is an educated decision considering the predicted trajectory of COVID-19 in our community.
Our hope is that physical distancing and shelter-in-place requirements will be easing on a local and state level by June and we will be able to open the markets in a cautious but semi-normal way. If restrictions are still in place we may need to make some structural changes relating to limited space. The markets will become more focused on farms and a few essential food items adding all the other businesses we love as weeks pass and safety guidelines allow. Be prepared for it to look a bit different for some weeks.
Certified farmers’ markets are considered essential food outlets and fall under the same category as grocery stores in the Shelter in Place ORDER instated by Santa Cruz County on March 17 and extended and amended on March 31. We ask for your support as we continue to implement and enforce the following changes. These will ease and shift as county and state requirements/recommendations change.
- All vendors are to use gloves, face coverings and hand washing stations.
- All sampling of fruits, vegetables and other foods is suspended.
- No seating or tables are offered.
- No bike valet offered.
- Music area and kids zone are suspended.
- Additional hand washing stations are provided at all markets.
- Limiting interaction between customers and produce to minimize cross contamination.
- Mandated physical distancing:
- Spacing out vendor stands.
- Marking official entrances and exits for each vendor stand.
- Establishing customer queues/lines that visually illustrate six feet between customers.
We ask that customers:
- Please stay home if you aren’t feeling well.
- Customers are required by the County to wear a face covering.
- Avoid touching your face, nose and mouth (especially after handling money).
- Practice physical distancing of six feet from any other person at the markets and respect the infrastructure we have created.
- Only touch what you purchase.
- Wash your hands often and for a minimum of 20 seconds.
In a time of isolation we are staying in close contact to make sure you have the most up-to-date information regarding our markets.
Please sign up for our NEW weekly newsletter where we share essays, clips and notable ideas from the farming community and our partners. We offer comfort-food recipes, poems and current updates regarding our response to COVID-19. Stay connected here.
•••
For the most up-to-date information visit www.santacruzfarmersmarket.org.
Story By Nicole Zahm