Farmers Market Shopping Tips With COVID-19 in Mind

While there is currently no evidence to support the transmission of COVID-19 through food, your farmers market shopping trip will look different this year. There will be new market guidelines in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to keep you and your family safe. By following these guidelines, you will keep the farmer/vendor and farmers market safe as well.

Before Shopping

• Before going to market, visit the market website or contact vendors to see what changes have been implemented for customers.
• Many markets have implemented order-ahead procedures and pay online, either through the market or directly from the vendor. Once at the market, you will pick up your bagged orders from each vendor.
• If there is no order-ahead process, have a shopping list of items you plan to purchase. This will allow you to focus on purchasing items you need, which means less time at the market and exposure to others.
• Find out if reusable bags are allowed. If they are, be sure you are bringing clean bags (either clean, washed cloth bags or cleaned and disinfected plastic bags).
• Take disinfecting hand wipes or hand sanitizer (60% alcohol) to clean your hands during and after shopping.
• Bring a cooler with ice packs if perishable foods will be above 40°F longer than one hour.
  -- Keep perishable foods at 40°F (4°C) or below.
  -- Keep raw meats separate from ready-to-eat foods by using multiple plastic bags.

While Shopping

• Practice social distancing (stay 6 feet away from others) while shopping and interacting with vendors; wear a face mask as outlined under local, state, and federal guidelines.
• For prepackaged orders, check that your order is accurate and complete and make changes with the vendor as needed.
• Most likely you will not be able to handle individual pieces of produce before purchase.
  -- Items may be prepackaged to limit shopper handling or displayed in such a way that only the vendor can handle and package them for you.
  -- If eggs are available, the vendor can open the carton for you to visually inspect.
  -- Continue to inspect produce and avoid purchasing bruised or damaged produce (misshapen is okay).
• Pay attention to prepackaged ready-to-eat foods like sandwiches or cut fruit.
  --  Ask how long the food items have been sitting out.
  -- Cold food should be cold; hot foods should be hot.
  -- Vendors/servers should wear gloves when handling ready-to-eat foods.
  -- Once purchased, take the food home to consume. This includes food purchased from a food truck. Do not linger or eat at the market.

At Home

• Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds as soon as you get home.
• Refrigerate perishable foods immediately upon return. Store other foods as appropriate.
• Clean and sanitize countertops where bags were placed, and dispose of plastic bags or wash/clean and disinfect reusable bags immediately.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds again.

 Storage and Preparation Guidelines

Fresh produce

Do not wash until ready to use. When ready to prepare foods:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Wash produce under cool, running water; do not use household soap, detergent, or bleach to wash produce.
• Wash all parts of the produce, even if not eating the skin/rinds.
  -- Pull apart the layers.
  -- Use a clean brush for produce with harder skins like potatoes, cucumbers, melons.

Eggs and dairy foods

Refrigerate immediately.

Meat and poultry

Refrigerate or freeze.

• In the refrigerator, store in containers to prevent juices from dripping.
• Freeze in containers or bags designed for freezing.