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Lehigh
Valley Safety Guidelines coming
soon!
Safety
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“There are benefits to visiting a farmers market in light of coronavirus in terms of the fact that you’re outside, there’s fresh air moving and the supply chain is shorter,” said Yvonne Michael, an epidemiologist at Drexel University School of Public Health.
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Michael said it’s too soon to scientifically prove if farmer markets are effectively safer than grocery stores. But the strict regulations they’re following, their outdoor setting, and the fact that food is going directly from the grower or producer to the customer (so there’s less handling than in bigger grocery stores) suggest that farmers markets are safer.
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“There’s lots of good public health benefits for farmer markets anyway, so I would definitely encourage people during the coronavirus to visit a farmers market,” Michael said.
"Farmers markets may be your safest bet for food shopping during the coronavirus pandemic"
(WHYY)
Prepare
markets
and
stands
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Consider delivery or pick up options
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Consider pre-packaging bags of fruits, vegetables, other items to limit shoppers’ handling of food and to keep customers moving quickly along.
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Consider alternate locations that could allow drive through or pick up.
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Consider putting up signs and information on websites and social media to explain any changes, delivery options, or extra precautions taken to limit exposure
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Ex: Instruct customers not to handle food. Package cheese and eggs for customers, even if the cheese and eggs are individually packaged.
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Separate stands if possible, to limit crowds – try to separate stands at least six feet apart. Possibly consider limiting the number of customers within your market at one time in the case of “panic shopping”.
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If possible, have a different person handle products and handle money or wash hands or sanitize in between these tasks.
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Remove tablecloths and sanitize tables regularly.
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Eliminate samples.
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Eliminate eating areas and gently direct customers to take prepared foods home to avoid crowds.
The following guidelines are from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for farms, markets, and farm stands. You can be sure when you're visiting these locations that the protection of you, employees, owners, and food is the top priority. Farms are following these guidelines, and beyond, to provide the community with the food we need as safely as possible!
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture guidelines
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Provide guidance for handwashing (liked time intervals) and handling materials.
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Stagger lunch times or provide additional space to increase distancing of employees.
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All sick employees need to stay at home.
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Inform employees where they can find sanitizing materials throughout on-farm contact points.
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Encourage employees to practice social distancing and avoid large gatherings to avoid risks for potential exposure during off hours.
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Encourage employees not to handle customers’ reusable bags and let customers pack their own bags
Prepare
workforce
Sanitize
Frequently disinfect all door handles and knobs, credit card machines, shopping baskets, etc. at a regular pre-established time intervals.
Frequently sanitize common gathering places – restrooms, etc.