LOCAL

Local farmers markets opening for the season

Jessica Skropanic
Vendors from Marble Mountain Farm in Happy Camp brought their wares to the Mount Shasta Farmers Market's first event of the season last week. Around Siskiyou County, such markets are opening with new precautions in place to combat the transmission of COVID-19.

A summertime staple is back despite the coronavirus pandemic keeping people home. Many of the North State’s farmers markets are reopening with new safeguards in place to protect the health of shoppers and vendors.

Booths are more spaced out. Hand sanitizing stations will be available. People may have to stay at least six feet apart from others and wait their turn at busy stands. And at least one farmers market requires vendors coming into contact with customers to wear face masks and gloves.

The first line of defense against the virus: People are asked not to come to markets if they aren’t in good health. For those who do come, good social distancing practices are a must.

Declared an essential service in California, farmers’ markets are continuing to succeed during the pandemic for many reasons, including the direct supply line from producer to customer and the open-air setting. As pointed out by the Farmers Market Coalition, farmers’ markets stimulate the local economy, help preserve farmland and rural livelihoods, increase access to fresh food, and support healthy communities.

“We’re asking folks to think ahead,” Mount Shasta Farmers Market spokesperson Nancy Swift said. “Send one family member, pre-order when possible and (don’t) linger too much.”

Here’s a list of local farmers markets that have opened or plan to open soon:

• Dunsmuir Farmers Market is scheduled to open on June 25, spokeswoman Andrea Herr said. Hours are 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays on Dunsmuir Avenue and Spruce Street. Organizers will limit the number of people allowed in at a time. Call 925-4355 or go to www.facebook.com/pg/DunsmuirFarmersMarket for more information. 

• Etna Farmers Market is scheduled to open June 13 through Sept. 26. Hours are 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at 514 North Highway 3 in Etna. Go to www.etnafarmersmarket.com for more information.

• Happy Camp Farmers Market is scheduled to open June 4 through Sept. 24. Hours are 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays at Highway 96 and Davis Road, in front of the Siskiyou-Klamath Art Center. Go to www.facebook.com/happycampfarmersmarket.

• Mount Shasta Farmers Market on East Castle Street in downtown Mount Shasta opened Monday, May 18. Hours are 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 12. The market is limited to 50 people at a time. Customers are asked to wear masks, and there are some masks available to those who don’t have them. Go to www.facebook.com/MtShastaFarmersMarket/ for more information.

• Yreka Community Certified Farmers Market is scheduled to open on June 10. Hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 7 at 1409 S. Main St. When it opens on June 10, vendors will be required to wear masks and gloves, market manager Marilyn Wheeler said. Booths are spaced  at least 12 feet apart. Go to https://tinyurl.com/yavbry2e for more information.

Jessica Skropanic is features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network.