While farmers’ markets are still up and running, their management groups have implemented social distancing measures to comply with Santa Clara County’s “shelter in place” order.
In a March 26 update on its website, Urban Village Farmers’ Market Association said all of the markets it runs save Campbell’s are still open for business. These include markets in Sunnyvale and the Willow Glen and Cambrian Park neighborhoods of San Jose.
“The biggest impact our markets experienced was not a shortage of food supply but managing the early bird rush of customers during the first two hours of opening,” the association’s website reads. “After 11 a.m., lines generally calmed down at all our locations.”
To help regulate the flow of customers, the association has begun a “senior hour” from 9-10 a.m. “We strongly encourage all populations who identify as healthy, under 50 years old and not at high risk to refrain from attending the market until after 10 a.m. so that sensitive populations can shop first.”
To help reduce crowding, some of the larger farm stalls at the markets have been moved to the edges of the market so that their lines can spill out onto the sidewalks rather than into the market aisles.
Designated maximum lengths for lines are marked by a barricade or chalk line to help keep multiple lines from running into each other. If crowds get too dense, staff will ask customers to wait in an overflow line outside of the market perimeter or on sidewalks until enough customers leave to keep things spacious.
Where possible, vendors who take cards for Square payments will have customers swipe their card then ask if they can “sign for you” with an X. This way, vendors don’t have to touch customers’ cards, and customers don’t have to touch vendors’ machine. Larger booths staffed many workers will be selecting and bagging produce for customers.
The Sunnyvale Farmers Market is held Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at Murphy and Washington avenues.
The Willow Glen farmers’ market is held Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at Willow Glen Elementary School, 1425 Lincoln Ave., San Jose.
The Cambrian Park Farmers’ Market is held Wednesdays, 4-8 p.m., at Camden and Union avenues, San Jose.
The Campbell Farmers’ Market is closed until further notice.
The Urban Village Farmers’ Market Association is asking for volunteers to help control perimeter “entrances.” To volunteer to help with crowd control, visit https://uvfm.org/coronavirus.
