farmers' market

[jadelennox]

The first Davis farmers' market was today. Usual time and usual place (Wednesdays, in the parking lot behind the post office), but not at all the usual protocol. Still, the usual farms were there, with the usual early spring supply, and it all seemed to go pretty smoothly.

Their guidelines for covid-times shopping at the market are annoyingly an infographic with no alt text, but basically, it was: if it's crowded, you'll have to wait; you can book a time and pre-order food (though I did neither); they make you wear a mask and sanitize hands; don't bring kids or pets; one way aisle; stay 6 feet apart from each other. If you've gone to the grocery store in the last couple of months, you know the drill. The farmers can't touch your reusable bag but they have bags you can use.

Comments

[minoanmiss]

Can you bring a reusable bag and put things in it that others hand to you, or should you just not (as with many grocery stores)?

[hathor]

I did that with no problem.

Also, had the swordfish I bought from C&C Lobster and Fish for dinner last night and it was delectable!

[jadelennox]

yes, they are fine with you rebagging into your own bags and carts, yay!

[ron_newman]

I went at 12:55 pm, after making a reservation for the 12:30-1 pm slot. I did not need the reservation, as nobody was waiting in line when I arrived. Since it's still May, there were more plants than there was produce.

I hope the vendors did OK, because what I saw was the total opposite of the usual opening-day crowdedness.

In order to space out vendors and customers, the market took over the entire parking lot, rather than just half of it as they normally do.

[ron_newman]

Yes, I did that. (I also do that at bfresh)

[desireearmfeldt]

Thanks for this post -- I saw that the farmers markets were planning to open on schedule and have been wondering how that would okay out.

How well did distancing seem to be working?

[jadelennox]

very well, though I don't know how well it would work when there's more people. They had bubbles chalked on the concrete for lines in front of the busier stands (eg. Kimball), and I only saw one person who clearly forgot to not weave through people.

[kathmandu]

Thank you for this. I saw the plans online but it's good to hear how it's working out in reality.

[leafshimmer]

Many thanks for this post. I appreciate this report very much!

[dtremit]

Thanks for the report! I have been intrigued by the markets but wanted to hear how they went the first week before venturing out.

For better accessibility, the site for the Union Square market has their rules in text format (on this page and the linked "Shopper's Pledge"):

https://www.unionsquaremain.org/2020-season

They are worded slightly differently, but the basic idea of most of them is the same.