Jordan Barry ©️ Seven Days
COVID-19 guidelines posted at the entrance to the first summer Burlington Farmers Market on June 6, 2020
The
Burlington Farmers Market, whose summer schedule runs through Saturday, October 17, is planning for a “very different winter season” in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, market director Mieko Ozeki told
Seven Days.
Given the market’s scale and the risk associated with large indoor gatherings, “An indoor market doesn’t make sense for us this year,” she said.
So, instead of moving to its usual indoor location at the University of Vermont’s Dudley H. Davis Center, the market has extended the lease at its summer home in the
345 Pine Street lot.
There it will host two outdoor holiday markets, tentatively scheduled for November 21 (the Saturday before Thanksgiving) and December 19 (the Saturday before Christmas).
Market management will encourage customers to preorder at these markets, given the cold weather and limited facilities.
“This will really test the limit on ‘rain or shine,’” Ozeki said. “But we know it’s important to offer a market for food distribution, so people can shop directly from our farmers and vendors.”
The number of vendors, the hours and details of the market setup remain to be determined. Ozeki expects the holiday markets to feature a mix of winter and summer Burlington Farmers Market vendors, with a focus on farmers and food producers.
The state
Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets has yet to release
COVID-19 guidelines for winter farmers markets, but Ozeki doesn’t expect future guidance to affect the market’s plans.
File: Curran McKee, courtesy of Ryan Nakhleh
Local Maverick founder Ryan Nakhleh (left) and team member Alex Farrell shopping at the Hudak Farm Stand & Greenhouse stand at the Burlington Farmers Market
Beyond the holiday markets, shoppers can obtain products from many market vendors through local delivery services such as
Local Maverick’s BFM Direct,
BBz Delivery Collective, the
Intervale Food Hub and Ardelia Farm’s
Kingdom Direct Food Delivery, as well as directly in many cases.
“If customers are looking for delivery, or they just want to pick up somewhere without having to interact, there are lots of options that are coming up,” Ozeki said. “Everyone’s scrappy, and they’re hustling — and you’ve got to survive.”
Meanwhile, “We have five more regular markets,” Ozeki said. “Stock up!”