Greenmarket Producer Update COVID-19
Dear GrowNYC Greenmarket Producer,
 
Thank you for your continued work to supply New York City with crucial farm products. We know that this is a very uncertain time, that many of you are dealing with your own families and circumstances while continuing the incredibly challenging work that you do. We continue to be in regular contact with the City and State to ensure that or markets remain open and operate safely. To that end, not unlike many other aspects of our lives right now, situations will change often, if not daily, and our at-market requirements will adapt accordingly. You will continue to receive regular updates from us, and we appreciate your cooperation and patience. 

FYI, we plan to continue operations through a ‘shelter in place’ directive from the City and you will hear from us immediately if that changes.
 
In order to further protect the public and build trust with our customer community, we are implementing the following changes: 
 
Additional Producer Restrictions Effective Wednesday, March 16th:
•  Only Producers and their staff may handle products at your stand.   Customers must not touch any produce or products until after they have purchased. As such, stands must be reconfigured so that customers will request products and staff will bag produce.  Some farmers have already reconfigured this way and it has worked well. It is recommended that a staffer, other than those packing product, handle payment. 
• Apple cider may no longer be served by the cup, only in enclosed bottles.
• Cotton candy may not be distributed unless it is pre-bagged.
 
Continued Producer Restrictions:

  • Market Managers will space out farm stand spaces with at least 2 ft distance between the tents, more where possible, to reduce congestion.
  • Any items that require tongs to be served must be done by the producer's employee wearing protective gloves.  
  • All producers need to have hand sanitizer, a hand washing station, or wipes available for their staff and be using them regularly.
  • All producers need to be sanitzing their stands regularly, primarily wiping down tables, terminals, cash boxes, etc. Disinfectant spray and paper towels are fine to use.
  • All producers need to have gloves available for their staff, and to not use the same gloves for handling product and cash/tokens. All produce must be handled by staff wearing gloves. Poly gloves work well because they slip on and off easily.
  • All producers need to be using plastic/vinyl table covers, and otherwise should just be using the table with no cover and cleaning it regularly. If you need vinyl covers we have extra and can get to you next week. 

Suggestions for Producers:
  • Use Venmo or another form of online payment for transactions.
  • Have customers pre-order and bag on farm or at market.
  • Create additional separation between your tents. 
  • Do you already have an online ordering system? Send us the details so we can share with the public.

Updates from Greenmarket Staff:
  • We have suspended our Winter Warrior program and will resume when safe to do so. 
  • We will be encouraging thinner crowds within farmer stands to facilitate distancing through additional signage and staff direction. 
  • Public communication: we are posting regularly to our social media channels about markets being open, and have a schedule change alert for markets and all GrowNYC programs on every page of our website.
 
Reminders:

If you don't feel well, stay home. You and your staff should leave if you begin to have symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. You should seek medical advice promptly by calling ahead to a doctor’s office or emergency room prior to a medical evaluation.

Proper personal hygiene is a good preventative measure for all respiratory illnesses including COVID-19.
Hand Hygiene:
Regular hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds should be done:
o Before and after eating.
o After sneezing, coughing, or nose blowing.
o After using the restroom.
o Before handling food.
o After touching or cleaning surfaces that may be contaminated.
o After using shared equipment and supplies like electronic equipment such registers, tools, debit/credit terminals. 
If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers by
children should always be supervised by adults.

Respiratory Hygiene:
o Covering coughs and sneezes with tissues or the bend of elbow.
o Disposing of soiled tissues immediately after use.
 
GrowNYC will continue to research additional methods to support the safe operations of markets and we encourage you to do the same. Many of you have already implemented new systems that have proven to promote safety and not hindered sales. We are in this together. Let’s continue to support one another and we will get through this as a community, just as we have in previously challenging times. 
 
We’ll see you at market,
 
Marcel and Michael