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NYC Greenmarkets Implement Even Tougher Safety Protocols

NYC Greenmarkets Implement Even Tougher Safety Protocols

Published 03-26-20

Submitted by GrowNYC

In his executive order last week, Governor Cuomo designated farmers markets, such as GrowNYC’s Greenmarkets, essential to the city during this current crisis. With many other food access points now closed, the need for our markets to supply fresh, healthy food is even greater and has resulted in more New Yorkers coming out to shop at our open-air markets.

To meet the growing need in the safest way possible, GrowNYC closed all our markets for two days to reconfigure them with additional safety protocols. These new measures build on other proactive safety steps we have taken (listed below). GrowNYC set the standard for safety, before and during this crisis.

New voluntary safety protocols include:

  • Dramatically increasing the footprint of our markets to allow for social distancing.

  • Spacing market tents apart at least 10 feet

  • Reconfiguring some markets to limit the number of customers shopping at any given time

  • Adding additional demarcations to keep shoppers at least six feet apart

  • All markets engage additional GrowNYC staff on the ground regulate customer flow and ensure social distancing

Previously established voluntary safety protocols included:

  • Disallowing customers from handling of any products prior to purchase. Only gloved staff can do so

  • Increased distancing of farmers’ stands at market

  • Suspension of all sampling by vendors

  • Requirement of all vendors to wear protective gloves

  • Availability of hand sanitizer at every market

  • Reconfiguring of markets, barricading food from direct public access, and demarcation of additional space for social distancing

  • All farm stands must use vinyl or plastic table covers for easy sanitizing

  • All Producers must sanitize their stands and equipment at regular intervals throughout the day

  • All GrowNYC staff and Producers must not work or attend markets if feeling ill

  • All staff processing cash/credit/debit/SNAP transactions must wear protective gloves

GrowNYC’s safety protocols are currently being used as a model for farmers markets across the country. As an “essential” food access point, we are committed to ensuring access to healthy, fresh fruit and vegetables in the safest way possible. We encourage the press to contact us to set up a tour to see our protocols in actions.

For more information, or for news organizations interested in covering GrowNYC’s safety measures, contact Catherine Crawford at 718-809-1603 or by email, ccrawford@grownyc.org

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