SWAMPSCOTT — Normally there’s live music, places to sit and eat, and dogs are allowed. But, given the circumstances, the opening of the Swampscott Farmers Market amid the COVID-19 pandemic was still considered a success by organizers, even if some things had to be tweaked.
The Swampscott Farmers Market opened for the first day of the season Sunday, and will be open at 22 Monument Ave. each Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through the fall. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Swampscott Farmers Market has been designed to keep vendors and patrons socially distant. The number of people allowed at the market at any one time will be limited to 70, and the number of vendors is limited to 15.
In addition, there are only farm and food vendors, with their tents spaced at least 12 feet apart. A clever way to maintain social distancing between vendors was to have them park their cars between the tents this year, said
Swampscott Recreation Director Danielle Strauss, who said she has been running the farmers market for about 10 years. The farmers market looks quite different this year, she said.
“Normally we have the picnic tables out encouraging people to come and sit down, eat food, we have music, entertainment,” Strauss said. “Now, you come to buy your vegetables.”
In addition to not having live music and places to sit, dogs are not allowed this year, and people who enter have to wear a mask. Customers are also not allowed to bounce back and forth between vendors, and have to follow a guided path. Those who miss a vendor and want to go back need to go to the beginning of the path again and restart the circuit.
There were almost no problems with people not following the rules, Strauss said, but a few people had to be told to put a mask on to enter.
Vendors also had rules, including not allowing customers to touch any food products unless they buy it. One woman was told she had to buy a $2 vegetable after picking it up to inspect it.
“The way we do it, if you pick it up, you buy it,” said Hobie Clark from Clark Farm based out of Danvers. “It’s been going smoothly though. People have been following the rules. I’ve only seen one person without a mask (who had a medical condition allowing them to go maskless.”
As the season goes on, it is possible that some changes may be made and some restrictions loosened, Strauss said, mentioning crafter vendors may be allowed to come in the fall.
Sunday’s opening was a “soft opening,” Strauss said, because no “robo-call” went out to residents. She said she may send one out this week, but wanted to see how opening day worked out first.
“We’re still working out the kinks, spacing vendors out,” Strauss said. “The craft vendors may be brought back, in October maye, but it depends how much space we have.”
Cindy Adams, from Long Hill Orchard & Farm in West Newbury, said the day was successful. Long Hill has already dealt with COVID-19 by setting up outside instead of having its walk-in store open, so they were ready for a socially distant farmers market.
“People have been great,” Adams said. “They have been following all safety measures.”
