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 CORTEZ FARMERS MARKET WILL OPEN ON JUNE 6TH,BUT DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE THE SOCIAL EVENT IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.
YOU'REWATCHING THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK, BROUGHT TO YOU BY BIG-O TIRES INCORTEZ. I'M WENDY GRAHAM SETTLE.
EXPECTSOME CHANGES WHEN THE CORTEZ FARMERS MARKET OPENS ON THE FIRSTSATURDAY IN JUNE YOU WON'T HEAR LIVE MUSIC, NOR WILL YOU FINDCHILDREN'S GAMES AND OTHER SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. BUT FOOD VENDORS WILLBE ON HAND TO SELL THEIR PRODUCE, MEATS, CHEESES, AND LOCALLYPRODUCED JAMS AND JELLIES AND OTHER PRODUCTS.. JUST GRAB YOUR FOODAND LEAVE, PLEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE CHANGES REFLECT THEHEALTH MEASURES DEVELOPED BY THE COLORADO FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATIONIN COLLABORATION WITH THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ANDENVIRONMENT TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS, THE BUG THATCAUSES COVID-19.
OURMARKET WILL BE MORE OF AN OPEN AIR GROCERY STORE, KIND OF FOODMARKET, PRIORITIZING THE SALE OF FOOD GROWN LOCALLY OR PRODUCEDLOCALLY FROM OUR FARMERS AND RANCHERS.
HOWYOU SELECT YOUR FOOD ALSO WILL CHANGE. VENDORS HAVE BEEN ASKED TODISPLAY THEIR PRODUCE IN THE BACK OF THEIR STALLS AT LEAST THREE FEETFROM THE CUSTOMER. YOU WON'T GET TO PICK OVER THAT BUNCH OF GREENS ONYOUR OWN. THE VENDOR WILL GRAB YOUR PRODUCE AND HAND IT TO YOU.SUTTON ALSO ENCOURAGES CUSTOMERS TO ORDER THEIR PRODUCE AHEAD OFTIME, AND IF THEY PREFER, THEY ALSO CAN CHOOSE CURBSIDE DELIVERY SOTHEY DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR CARS. CUSTOMERS WHO CHOOSE TO PICK UPTHEIR FOOD OR PURCHASE ON SITE ARE ENCOURAGED TO LEAVE AS SOON ASTHEY MAKE THEIR PURCHASES. PLEASE, NO SOCIALIZING IN THE MARKET TOPRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING.
I’MSO PROUD OF THE RANCHERS AND FARMERS IN OUR AREA, THAT ARE, THEY ARETAKING THIS CHALLENGE AND THEY ARE TAKING IT ON. AND FIGURING OUT AWAY TO STILL PROVIDE THEIR PRODUCT TO THE PUBLIC. AND THEIR GOING,THEY HAVE ONLINE SITES SO PEOPLE CAN SHOP, COMMERCE SITES ON THEWEBSITE ON THE WEB, TO PUT THEIR PRODUCT OUT THERE. WHERE AS BEFORETHEY SPENT ALL DAY IN THE FIELD, AND NOW THEIR PUTTING THEMSELVES OUTON THE INTERNET SO PEOPLE CAN ORDER FROM HOME, OR PREORDER, AND SHOWUP AND KEEP IT ALL SAFE.
SUTTONSAYS SHE HOPES THAT THE SOCIAL-DISTANCING MEASURES ADOPTED THIS YEARWILL ENCOURAGE CUSTOMERS TO FEEL CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO SHOP AND SUPPORTLOCAL FARMERS.
IWANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STILL FREQUENT OUR MARKET. IT’S NOTGOING TO BE A SOCIAL EVENT, BUT IT IS STILL A VENUE FOR YOU TO COMEAND PURCHASE, BUY LOCAL. WE WANT YOU TO BE SURE, TO ENSURE THAT WE’REHERE PRACTICING SAFE, AS VENDORS AND AS A MARKET. AND THAT IT IS ASAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOU TO COME THROUGH AND SHOP.
IFYOU'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR'S REGULATIONS IN THE FARMERSMARKET OR TO SEE A LIST OF VENDORS FOR PRE-ORDERS, VISITCORTEZFARMMARKET.COM.
I'MWENDY GRAHAM SETTLE. THANKS FOR WATCHING THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK.
