Farmers markets are essential businesses and have performed some herculean tasks during the 2020 season to make sure that the market was, and is, a safe place for the community to purchase their food.
A good number of Pennsylvania farmers markets operate year-round and some of those markets move indoors for the winter months. As essential businesses, it’s a good idea to revisit the guidance for markets as they move indoors to make sure we are still doing all that we can to protect the community as well as vendors and volunteers at the market.
Overall Guidance for market and individual stands:
- Have fully stocked handwashing and sanitizing stations in place at multiple locations and post signs that inform everyone where hand sanitizing materials are available and that show the correct way to wash hands.
- Put up signs and provide information on websites and social media to explain any changes, delivery options, or extra precautions taken to limit exposure to the coronavirus. For example, instruct customers not to handle food and please wear a mask.
- Require vendors and customers to wear a mask and follow market protocols for cleaning, sanitizing, and food safety.
- Everyone must wear a mask. That includes workers and customers. Remember, my mask protects you and your mask protects me. Pennsylvania Covid-19 Business Guidance
- Encourage customers to maintain social distancing of at least six feet apart from each other when making purchases.
- Limit crowds. Have delivery or pick-up options whenever possible. Limit the number of people to 50% occupancy of stated fire code maximum occupancy. This includes customers and vendors.
- Separate stands if possible, to limit crowds – try to maintain a separation between stands of at least six feet apart.
- If possible, have different persons handle products and money, or wash hands or use a hand sanitizer between these tasks.
- Utilize card readers that allow customers to swipe their own credit cards, thus protecting both them and your employees. Disable the signature function on your point of sale (POS) system to limit contact from multiple customers.
- Do not allow customers to sample products.
- Train all employees on the importance and expectation of increased frequency of handwashing, the use of hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, and provide clear instructions to avoid touching hands to face.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. This includes things like doors, counters, shared equipment or tools, common areas like waiting rooms, breakrooms, bathrooms, and more. If people touch something a lot, clean it a lot. For lower traffic areas, clean between shifts and any other times you clean based on your usual routine.
Reinvigorate your online ordering and curbside pick-up options.
Advantages of online ordering and pickup:
- Vendors know at the beginning of the market day the minimum amount of gross sales they will have for the day.
- Limits the amount of time customers spend at the market limiting the risk of exposure.
- Attracts customers who enjoy the convenience of online ordering who otherwise may not shop at the market.
- Online shopping allows the market customers to shop virtually any time rather than just the day of the market.
CDC and EPA’s Guidance on Cleaning and Disinfecting
- Routinely clean, sanitize, and disinfect payment devices, tables, and other high touch surfaces and objects. Require participating market vendors to do the same.
- If you have restrooms or port-a-potties, set up a schedule to frequently clean and disinfect all surfaces, and replenish soap, sanitizers, or paper products.
- Limit or suspend the use of items that are hard to clean and disinfect (e.g., wooden tokens).
- Use disposable gloves when removing garbage bags or handling and disposing of trash:
- - After using disposable gloves, throw them out in a lined trash can.
- - Do not disinfect or reuse the gloves.
- - Wash hands after removing gloves.
- Ensure you have enough supplies for market workforce, volunteers, and customers to clean their hands and cover their coughs and sneezes. Supplies include soap, water, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol, a way to dry hands, tissues, disinfectant wipes, masks (as feasible), and no-touch trash cans.
Source : psu.edu