AMHERST — If the Amherst Farmers Market opens later this month for its 49th season in downtown Amherst, protocols will be in place to ensure both customers and vendors are practicing safe social distancing for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to town officials.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman told the Town Council this week that he is working with market organizers to have farmers and producers return to the longstanding site in the Spring Street parking lot, likening the service it provides to that of a grocery store.
“Having access to fresh food is really important, but (also) having protections in place to make sure people can access the farmers market,” Bockelman said, adding that it’s important that the market doesn’t become a social gathering place.
Bockelman said he has spoken to the state’s Department of Agriculture about executing a plan for the set up of the market, and that monitoring will take place so it is in compliance with the state’s declaration of emergency.
Health agents, for instance, will examine the social distancing plan for the market. One idea could be to have the vendors set up at a greater distance from each other.
At-Large Councilor Alisa Brewer said she is concerned that the market will have to be “radically different” to function during these times, adding that she would be nervous about trying to accommodate the market too soon. Brewer noted a lot of the produce in the early season has been stored for the winter.
District 3 Councilor Dorothy Pam said Amherst could also get guidance from Union Square Market in New York City, where there have been significant steps taken to make sure people are not transmitting the coronavirus. Those include plastic shields in front of the vendors to protect from sneezes and coughs, and not allowing customers to touch the produce or do any self-service.
“I do hope we see the farmers market in a new safer format, soon,” Pam said.
