New Rules for Farmers Markets in Virginia

New Rules for Farmers Markets

We will be taking additional measures to increase social distancing:
• Market managers will adjust booth assignments to allow as much space for social distancing as possible.
• All vendors are to operate with minimal display, out of their vehicles if possible.
• All vendors must reorganize their space so that customers cannot enter their booth to touch or browse through products.
• Each vendor should display a menu of items for customers to order from. Share early and often on social media so customers can come prepared!
• Vendors must bag products for their customers. Items like produce should be pre-bagged whenever possible to reduce touchpoints. Reusable bags cannot be used at this time.
• Ideally, there should be one employee bagging produce and the other handling money. Gloves are available to use!
• Please continue to push customers to pre-order/pay for items to decrease the density of customers.
• Vendors should do all they can to reduce touchpoints at the point of sale. Turn off signature requirements, and allow customers to insert/swipe their own cards if possible. You could also manually enter the customer’s CC information to avoid touching all together. Please encourage customers to prepay online whenever feasible. Vendors must wipe down screens and card readers with disinfectant after each customer, and use hand sanitizer.
• We recommend that you no longer accept cash, and use touchless payment like Venmo if feasible.
• Market Managers will monitor customer density and restrict entry to the market as needed to ensure there is ample room for social distancing.
• We will be indicating the safe social distance space of 6 feet using painters tape in front of each booth.
• Only one customer can shop at a booth at a time. If a line forms please remind customers to leave 6 feet distance.
• Vendors can accept SNAP, but please keep coupons/tokens in a plastic bag (pleas date!), and turn them into your manager for reimbursement in two weeks' time (or hold off until things calm down if feasible).
• No on-site food consumption or sampling is allowed! All prepared foods must be packaged to go.
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