Reasons to Support Your Local Farmers Market
Guidelines for Vendors
Guidelines for Customers
Other Resources
The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries has worked on a set of guidelines that we believe will be in the best interest of our market, farmers and consumers. These are based on the potential risks associated with COVID-19 and its impact on health and the economic well-being of our farmers.
We also believe that this is an extremely important time to recognize the benefits of markets and local products. Please continue to support your local farmers during this time and consider the following:
You know your farmer – you will see the person(s) who grew or produced your food. You can see they are healthy and feel more comfortable with the foods you are feeding your family.
Food in a farmers’ market is not part of the supply chain that serves other food venues. The limited chain means fewer people handled the food and reduced the risk of contamination.
Farmers markets are outdoor events – fresh air is healthy and so is the food at farmers markets
Maintaining a healthy diet of fresh, locally grown foods can increase your overall health. A healthy body is better able to resist and fight disease.
MARKET OPERATING GUIDELINES DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAK:
Farmers, vendors and market staff should wear food grade gloves, with frequent changes as they become soiled or contaminated. *If you touch your face or any other surface with your gloves, they are contaminated and have to be changed. One person should handle produce only while gathering produce for a customer and another person handle money only, and reglove after each customer.
Numbers of hand washing stations available within the market will be increased, along with signage to encourage customers to frequently wash their hands.
Bring hand washing supplies and hand sanitizers for frequent use within your booth space.
Limit bare hand contact. No handshaking, no hugs. To the extent possible, limit customer handling of food products.
Segregate duties behind market tables. Designate one individual to handle money, tokens and coupons, while others handle the products being sold. Again, wear food grade gloves with frequent changes.
All foods should be pre-packaged to eliminate potential contamination at the market. Examples would be pre-packaging breads and baked goods.
Pre-portioning or pre-weighing produce in containers or bags that are ready to go is strongly encouraged.
Farmers and vendors who are ill, or showing signs of illness, should stay home. Send a replacement to sell if they are not sick. If anyone within the farm business is confirmed infected with Covid-19, notify the manager and remain home.
Farmers should be watchful of signs of illness in customers, removing all products they may have touched from their sales tables. Do not remove with bare hands.
Suspend cooking demonstrations and sampling.
Institute 6-10 feet of space between vendor booths where possible.
No dogs are allowed at the farmers’ market unless they are service dogs as defined as follows:
Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability. (emotional support dogs do not qualify).
ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES:
Create a CSA to supply products.
Allow customers to pay and order via phone, social media or internet. These systems would be designed to minimize the handling for product, minimize person-to-person contact, while maintaining sales for farmers.
Allow customers to pick up in open-air, centralized environment. Schedule pick up times if crowd size is a concern.
MARKET CUSTOMER BEST PRACTICES DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAK:
We encourage everyone who is healthy and feels safe to visit our farmers’ markets in order to procure healthy, local food from area farmers, ranchers and small businesses. But we ask that you follow these strict guidelines:
Please be patient and follow new market rules during this time.
Wash your hands for 20 seconds upon arrival at the market and frequently as you move throughout the space. We will have an increased number of handwashing stations and hand sanitizer and all vendors are required to display hand sanitizer in each booth.
Do not congregate between booths or in walkways.
Maintain at least an arm’s length distance between other shoppers and vendors, especially while you are waiting in line.
Do NOT greet anyone at the market with hugs or handshakes.
Avoid touching your face.
No hand-to-hand contact will be allowed between vendors and shoppers. Point to the product that you would like, allow the vendor to bag it and set it down on the table before you pick it up.
Do not hand vendors payments directly. Place cash and credit cards on the table for vendors to pick up.
Use Apple Pay or
Venmo when available. If you are able, we encourage you to set up Apple Pay or Venmo on your smartphone before you arrive and use this as a payment method. If you do use this method of payment, please sanitize your phone before you arrive and after you leave the market.
Anyone who is feeling unwell in any way should stay home.
Any shopper who is at a higher risk, including individuals who are over 65 and/or with underlying health conditions, should stay home.
Please refrain from bringing your dogs to the market during this time.
*Guidelines adapted from ADA Guidelines found here.
Other Resources:
Farmers Market Safety During COVID-19 Outbreak- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkNoAmOtt___bdgABbNW7XKifKO5Eb6jX
Wearing Gloves For Food Safety- https://www.statefoodsafety.com/Resources/Resources/training-tip-wearing-gloves-for-food-safety
The latest recommendations from ADPH may be found at:
COVID-19-Related Emergency Orders of State Agencies and ADPH News Releases. As this situation evolves, ADPH will provide updates on their COVID-19 web page at: