Farmers markets are considered an essential service because they provide food for the community. But this year’s social-distancing rules will change how you pick out your food and your socializing.
REJOICE, LOCAL-FOOD-A-VORES. THE DURANGO FARMERS MARKET WILL OPEN ON SCHEDULE ON MAY 9TH, BUT DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE THE SOCIAL EVENT IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST. YOU'RE WATCHING THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK, BROUGHT TO YOU BY ANIMAS MOUNTAIN MORTGAGE. I'M WENDY GRAHAM SETTLE. EXPECT SOME CHANGES WHEN THE DURANGO FARMERS MARKET TRADITIONALLY OPENS THE SATURDAY BEFORE MOTHER'S DAY. YOU WON'T HEAR LIVE MUSIC, NOR WILL YOU FIND ARTS AND CRAFTS BOOTHS OR MINI-MASSAGE SESSIONS. BUT FOOD VENDORS WILL BE ON HAND TO SELL EARLY GREENS AND ROOT CROPS, MEATS, EGGS, CHEESES, AND READY-TO-EAT FOODS FROM VETERAN FAVORITES LIKE BREAD, STONE-FIRED PIZZA, AND ZIA TAQUERIA. GRAB YOUR FOOD AND LEAVE, PLEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE CHANGES REFLECT THE HEALTH MEASURES DEVELOPED BY THE COLORADO FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATION IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS, THE BUG THAT CAUSES COVID-19.WE HAVE TO ADHERE TO ALL OF THE SOCIAL GUIDELINES, THE SOCIAL-DISTANCING GUIDELINES. WE ARE GOING TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF ENTRANCES OF OUR MARKET FROM FIVE DOWN TO THREE. WE WILL HAVE WASH STATIONS WHERE CUSTOMERS ARE GOING TO BE ASKED TO WASH THEIR HANDS UPON ENTRY AND EXIT OF THE MARKET. WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING CUSTOMERS TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS. WE WILL NOT BE REQUIRING IT UNLESS THE STATE AND THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT ALSO REQUIRE IT. ALL OF OUR VENDORS, HOWEVER, AND MARKET STAFF WILL BE WEARING FACE COVERINGS FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MAY. HOW YOU SELECT YOUR FOOD ALSO WILL CHANGE. VENDORS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DISPLAY THEIR PRODUCE IN THE BACK OF THEIR STALLS AT LEAST THREE FEET FROM THE CUSTOMER. YOU WON'T GET TO PICK OVER THAT BUNCH OF GREENS ON YOUR OWN. THE VENDOR WILL GRAB YOUR PRODUCE AND HAND IT TO YOU. IF YOU'RE A CUSTOMER THAT COMES TO THE MARKET, SAY AT 10:30 YOU CAN KNOW THAT THAT BUNCH OF CARROTS HAS STILL ONLY BEEN TOUCHED BY THE PRODUCER THAT BROUGHT IT TO THE MARKET THAT DAY. GONZALES ENCOURAGES CUSTOMERS TO ORDER THEIR PRODUCE OR FOOD AHEAD OF TIME, PAY WITH CREDIT CARD OR EXACT CHANGE, AND LEAVE THE MARKET AS SOON AS THEY'VE COMPLETED THEIR PURCHASES. NO SOCIALIZING, PLEASE. GONZALES EXPECTS TO EASE RESTRICTIONS LATER THIS SUMMER AS HEALTH DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS DICTATE. WHILE THE MARKET WILL BE DIFFERENT WITH SOCIAL-DISTANCING RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE, GONZALES SAYS SHE HOPES CUSTOMERS WILL TURN OUT TO SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS AND TO KEEP ONE OF DURANGO'S FAVORITE SUMMER TRADITIONS ON LIFE SUPPORT AS THE COMMUNITY RECOVERS FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR'S REGULATIONS IN THE FARMERS MARKET, VISIT DURANGO FARMERS MARKET DOT COM.I'M WENDY GRAHAM SETTLE. THANKS FOR WATCHING THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK.
