Look, but don’t touch
‘We just have to be more clean’: Pandemic precautions in place for St. John farmers market
Directional arrows painted on the parking lot where St. John’s weekly farmers market takes place guided visitors in a one-way fashion up and down the rows of vendors.
Visitors waited their turns at the various booths, following social distancing protocols.
The line at the fresh produce booth operated by Churchill Orchards ebbed and flowed with customers social distanced as they waited. Abby Vandermolen said the biggest challenge arising from the new rules due to the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is reminding people not to touch the produce.
Yellow caution tape wraps around the booth about a foot above the produce to serve as a reminder. Customers point at the fruits and vegetables they want while staff bags up their purchases.
Laura Okerstrom, of Schererville, shopped the produce with her dog, Axl. Okerstrom said she only began to shop the farmers market this year for a chance to get out and to help get Axl some exercise. The rules imposed because of the pandemic are not a bother.
“I’m fine with all this,” she said. Haleigh Marsh, of Cedar Lake, pointed to the baked treats she wanted at the Churchill Bakery booth. She was careful not to touch the carefully wrapped items.
“I’m not a toucher,” Marsh laughed, adding she previously worked in food service and has always been hands off when it comes to food items in places like farmers markets.
“I’m a vendor too. There are a lot more rules to abide by,” said Marsh, who operates Kibbles & Krafts at the market. The rules though have not seemed to have a negative impact on business or traffic through the market.
The farmers market is a different place this year amid the pandemic. One practice gone to the wayside is product samples that lured shoppers to vendors like Stamper Cheese Co., whose fresh sliced samples drew lines.
“It’s a big disappointment to a lot of people,” Anthony Shoemaker, gourmet cheese monger, said. Samples will remain a no-no at least as long as mask requirements remain.
Without the ability to sample, Shoemaker said he has to do more to explain the cheese to the customer.
“People don’t want to buy something and not to like it,” he said.
The cheesemaker, which only offers its products through farmers markets, has worked to adapt to the new selling environment. Initially cheese mongers brought prepackaged chunks of cheese. After some brainstorming, staff created a cellophane wrap wall between the cheese monger and shoppers. Now cheese can be cut on site and passed through a small hole in the plastic wrap to the customer.
“For the most part, everybody has been very understanding,” Shoemaker said.
Vendor Liz Farkas, of Griffith, offers packaged salsas and cooking sauces. Samples were a big part of her marketing pre-pandemic. Like Shoemaker, Farkas said she now has to do a better job describing the products.
“People like to taste things before they buy,” Farkas said.
Like other vendors and shoppers, Farkas wears a mask. She also wipes down the jars with disinfecting wipes if customers handle the jars periodically throughout the day just to be safe.
“We just have to be more clean,” she said.
Timmer Murgach said since his Good Morning Bakery is in Watseka, Illinois, he follows that state’s more stringent health codes for farmers markets when working in Indiana. That means samples were never a part of his bakery business as they are not allowed in Illinois.
St. John’s market is one of three at which Murgach sells.
“I’ve had no problems at all. I love this town. The people are so friendly. I will keep coming back,” he said.
The market continues from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 25 at in the parking lot of Community Outpatient Center, 9600 Wicker Ave.