Farmers markets begin opening with covid-related health, safety changes
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The Lower Burrell Farmers Market will open June 13 in the city hall parking lot — sans guest presenters from the Penn State Master Gardeners and live entertainment. Customers also won’t be allowed to enjoy the food they buy on site.
“I think people, instead of sticking around, moseying about and talking with people, are going to come, go straight to where they’re buying products, and head out,” said Bud Myers, who is in his tenth year of helping organize the market. “You sort of just have to ride it out by the seat of your pants and see what happens.”
Farmers’ markets have been deemed essential businesses during the covid-19 pandemic. But even as health and safety restrictions in Pennsylvania begin to loosen, the markets will have a very different look this season.
The Vandergrift Farmers Market, held on Thursdays from 4-6:30 p.m. in the Columbia Avenue parking lot, opens June 4 with covid restrictions in place. Market manager Natalie Jaworskyj said they are following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and state health department.
“I’m on the board for the Indiana County Farmers Market, and our president there is the executive director for PA Farm Link, so we get a lot of information directly from the state,” Jaworskyj said. “We’re in the same general category as a grocery store, so we follow those guidelines.”
Wilkins Township will not have a farmers market this year, according to Sylvia Martinelli, one of the organizers.
“We aren’t able to make all of the necessary modifications,” Martinelli said. “It’s too bad, too, because we have a good clientele.”
The Monroeville Lions Club Farmers Market, one of the oldest in the east suburbs with more than three decades under its belt, opened May 16.
“It went very, very well,” said organizer Barb Bain. “We didn’t know what to expect. Until the week before, we had no idea we’d even be able to open.”
Masks are required, food cannot be prepared or consumed on-site and even ice cream truck vendors must serve dessert in a cup with a lid.
“People need to know what we’re dealing with because they’ll close the market down if we don’t keep things under control,” Bain said. A few visitors were not comfortable wearing masks, Bain said, including one with a note from their physician. But for the most part, things went well.
“I think everyone was just really glad to have a place to go and get their food that is really safe,” Bain said.
The Lynch Field farmers market in Greensburg has been a drive-through since opening April 25, but according to the market’s Facebook page, it will be walk-through beginning June 6.
It is open Tuesdays and Thursdays 3-6 p.m.
The Greensburg drive-through market has been appealing to John and Sandy Bolinger of Monroeville.
“I would prefer this way over walking through,” John Bolinger said. “It’s more convenient.”
Last weekend, they first visited the Monroeville market before driving to Lynch Field, where Sandy Bolinger said she likes picking up plants for her garden.
Jennifer Peinetti said it seems like the amount of shoppers has dropped off in the last couple weeks. She brings cinnamon rolls, breads, pies and other items from her White Oak-based bakery to the Greensburg market.
“In the beginning, it was busier because people just wanted to get out,” she said. Now it’s kind of balancing out, but Peinetti still sees her regular customers, one of whom raved about her jam last weekend. “Everybody’s positive and they’re happy to see people,” she said.
Many farmers markets are taking pre-orders in order to keep foot traffic moving. The Delmont Farmers Market, which opens June 13, even made accommodations for a drive-through pick-up.
Guidelines for operating a farmers market are similar, but not identical, in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Shoppers are asked to contact their local farmers market for a complete list of health and safety guidelines.