Whitewater City Market friends,
A few of you have asked about how the governor’s newest stay-at-home directive impacts the market. Because the directive considers farmers markets essential, we are treated like grocery stores and are putting similar safeguards in place in addition to continuing to build and promote our virtual market online.
While we initially considered moving our Saturday market outdoors, the fact that spring mornings are generally very cold made us choose instead to start the Tuesday at the Depot early, starting Tuesday, March 31, 4-7 pm. (There will be no March 28 market.)
For the time being, WWCM’s outdoor market will be held with the following adaptations:
– Only vendors with consumable items like produce, honey, eggs, coffee, baked goods, soap, etc. will be allowed at the market for the time being
– Market vendors will be spaced 10 feet apart to maintain social distancing between vendors
– There will be no entertainment, food trucks, or beer
– There will be no furniture, as it might encourage gathering and lingering
– We will increase our hygienic practices including offering disposable gloves and handwashing stations
– We ask patrons not to touch any products
– No sampling of any kind will be allowed
Vendors will be spaced under the Depot and asked not to set up tents, etc. We want to encourage a transactional feel to the market and will encourage pre-orders, prepayment, and other ways for contactless sales. Because some vendors such as Wood Street Bakery will only bring items for those who have ordered and paid for them in advance, please follow our Facebook page for ongoing updates. We will continue to share our virtual market for the vendors who are not at these outdoor markets and ask that you consider to support them as well.
Thank you for supporting the farmers and producers who make up the heart and soul of Whitewater City Market. This is certainly not the celebratory beginning to our 5th outdoor market season we hoped for, but we know that making these adjustments is what is best for our community at this time.
Kristine & Lisa
Whitewater City Market co-managers
