Officials from the Northville Chamber of Commerce and vendors at the Farmers’ Market in the community are heading into end of the season with a sense of accomplishment for managing a successful marketplace despite the challenges of working amid COVID-19 prevention measures.
“The majority of our vendors are farmers/growers and probably did as well or better than in the past,” said Jody Humphries, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce.
The 27-week season (two weeks short of normal) began with an opening day thunderstorm on May 14 that subsided in the afternoon. The last market day this season will be Thursday, Oct. 29 - just two days before Halloween.. The hour from 8 until 9 a.m. is reserved for seniors older than 60 and people with health concerns. The market takes place at the corner of Center/Sheldon and West Seven Mile Road with overflow parking at Northville Downs.
In March and April, opening the market was somewhat in doubt. Because it takes place outdoors and essential items were being sold, the sale was allowed by state orders. Officials said that the venture was a balancing act between sales and safety. Vendors were limited to only growers and food vendors and organizers had to develop new methods of conducting business to keep the virus at bay - following the guidelines of the Michigan Farmers Market Association and the governor's executive orders.
One of the challenges was ensuring that everyone was wearing a mask. “We had to be the mask police on a number of occasions but overall it worked out,” said Humphries.
The size of the market was reduced by half--from 70 vendors to approximately 35 vendors--to allow for social distancing. A new parking plan was instituted with one-way in and one-way out.
The back of the market was designated as a “touchless” pick-up area, where shoppers who had placed an order with individual vendors could retrieve items which proved a popular service.
Several new vendors came to market. Two of them - Good Sense Coffee and Polish Pride of Michigan--were “closed out of their usual events (festivals, etc.) and looking for a place to land,” noted Humphries. The market also gained another meat vendor and a vendor selling sweets.
The market attracts about 1,000 shoppers on a good weather day.
“Besides the mask requirement and social-distance layout, on some days you would not know the difference between this year and last year,” Humphries said. “The community loves this market and we love the community. We are happy we could make it happen.”
If the coronavirus is still a threat next spring and summer, Humphries said, “We will abide by the CDC rulings and be as safe as need be. If we have to mirror our current operating procedures, we will do so.
