AIM Markets Advisory and COVID-19 Response
Farmers markets remain open as an essential service for supplying food to communities.
AIM will continue to operate all 7 Bay Area Farmers Markets and The Rollin’ Root.
Farmers markets have been determined a key component in preserving local and regional food production, which may become ever more critical as supply chains continue to be disrupted during this international emergency. Markets are modified to serve essential needs and conform to new public health guidelines.
Click Here to see how to best shop the Farmers Market during COVID-19
A message from our CEO
March 26, 2020
Dear Friends of AIM:
There is so much fear, uncertainty, and suffering occurring due to COVID19.
One glimmer of hope right now is that the Governor’s statewide order recognizes that farmers markets can continue to operate as essential services.
AIM and several partners successfully advocated to protect farmers markets, and we will therefore continue to operate our Bay Area Farmers Markets and Rollin’ Root mobile market as critical public services. Food is the foundation of good health. Though we are now physically distant, food allows us to be culturally and emotionally connected to one another.
Farmers Markets Are Essential
The shortest supply chain possible means that food passes through far fewer hands than other retail outlets. The open-air environment reduces the risk of transmission of pathogens compared to a confined grocery store with recirculating air. Support from loyal market shoppers like all of you helps to sustain our local and regional food systems during this international health crisis.
Many of our farmers lost accounts with the devoted chefs who have shopped the markets for decades when restaurants were disrupted. Farmers, ranchers, and fishers rely on the farmers markets to make their living. Similarly, many shoppers depend on the market for food supply. Shoppers who use CalFresh (formerly called Food Stamps) visit the market weekly to receive a market match for free fruits and vegetables.
During the Stay at Home order, AIM’s markets are no longer the community gathering spaces we have built in the past, but are focused exclusively on critical food and nutrition services in accordance with public health guidelines. AIM’s staff are working remotely around the clock to continue operating AIM’s farmers markets and Rollin’ Root mobile market.
If you feel healthy and can leave your home for your essential weekly grocery trip, we hope you will continue visiting the farmers market, or send a proxy on your behalf. The Rollin’ Root mobile market also makes one-hours stops throughout Marin County. At all times in the markets, staff, producers and shoppers are directed to maintain 6 foot distancing.
Get in, buy your groceries, and return home.
Below is a detailed summary of market modifications during COVID-19. We appreciate your understanding and support of these changes.
Call to Action
Volunteers: We can use more volunteer market ambassadors to help with monitoring social distance and help our Market Managers create a safe market environment. If interested, please contact Will Finnie at will@agriculturalinstitute.org
Pay it Forward: Can you reach into your pockets and purchase bulk produce directly from a farmer that could be donated where it is needed most in the Bay Area? For instance, restaurant staff who lost their jobs and local artists have no income as shows are cancelled. If this interests you, please contact info@agriculturalinstitute.org
Everyone has a role to play in preventing the spread of COVID-19! Thank you for supporting your local farmer – now and always.
Be well,
Andy Naja-Riese AIM CEO
Guidelines
Market Modifications
Only farmers, ranchers, fishers, food makers, and essential household producers are participating at markets currently.
All market booths are spaced further apart, and producers may have new temporary locations to maximize space.
No music, entertainment, or kids activities are allowed.
No tables and chairs are provided on-site to keep everyone in transit, and all prepared food is served to go.
Market Safety & Hygiene
Handwashing and hand sanitizing stations are located through the market.
All sampling is suspended.
Shoppers may not touch produce or other products prior to purchase. Farmers or producers will hand shoppers product, or drop it into your shopping bag.
If a producer accepts credit card, please pay with this option. For cash transactions, please try to pay with exact change. If change is needed, please exchange currency on the table or counter.
To protect others, stay home if you are sick. If you are sick and in public, please wear a facemask when you are around others.
For Shoppers
Wash hands often with soap & water for at least 20 seconds especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, with at least 60% alcohol,
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw
Minimize close contact with others, no handshaking or hugging
Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care
If you are ill, wear a clean, disposable procedure facemask.
Social Distancing
Producers and shoppers are directed to maintain 6 foot distancing at all times.
Note: We recommend only 1 person per household attend the market; however, families and immediate household members shopping together can be closer than 6 feet. Parents should keep children closer than 6 feet.
Please limit your visit to no more than 30 minutes.
If at any time AIM Managers believe the market has too many shoppers on site to maintain social distancing, market entry and exit will be limited and tracked.
Shopping the Farmers Markets
This video shares a few helpful tips to safely shop at our markets during the COVID-19 outbreak.
This video shares some helpful tips for Market Participants (vendors) setting up their booth at farmers markets during the COVID-19 outbreak.
