Coronavirus Forces Changes To Downtown Evanston Farmers' Market

EVANSTON, IL — Changes are coming to the Downtown Evanston Farmers' Market when it reopens Saturday for its 45th season. Organizers plan to limit the flow of customers through the redesigned market, require contactless transactions and encourage social distancing to limit potential spread of the new coronavirus.

Like grocery stores, farmers markets are considered essential businesses under Gov. J.B. Pritzker's stay-at-home order. And like grocery stores, face masks will be required for vendors and customers alike at Evanston's downtown market, which is coordinated by the city's parks, recreation and community services department.

"We had to re-envision our market to keep our priority of safety for all the vendors, customers and our community," Myra Gorman, who manages the market, said in an email. "Vendors will have no physical contact with customers. Payments and products will be sent across the table. Vendors will be the only people to handle the produce/products until the payment transactions are completed."

Staff will control the flow of patrons into the market through a single entrance, she said. Customers will be directed to keep six feet between one another as they navigate the remapped market in a single counter-clockwise direction.

"We are recommending that everyone at the market limit their amount of interacting while at the market. Now is not the time to socialize," Gorman said.

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Some elements of the market have been eliminated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the kids club, chef demonstrations, any entertainment, on-site consumption or bake sales.

Gorman said vendors have been encouraged to offer online ordering and pre-payment options to minimize the amount of time it takes to pass through the market.

Vendors have also been asked to limit the number of patrons to three at a time, provide hand sanitizer for customers and sanitize surfaces every two hours, according to safety guidelines for the market from the city's health and human services department, which recommended that people over age 65 and those with underlying health conditions remain at home.

"The continuation of the farmers' market's ability to supply fresh and local food to the Evanston community relies on both our vendors and our shopper's following a critical new set of health and safety guidelines due to COVID-19," according to the department's recommendations.

Gorman, of the parks department, said the open-air market will be safe as long as everyone follows posted guidelines and reminders from staff and volunteers.

"The biggest difference comparing our market to grocery stores is the safety of our produce/products that has less contact with individuals," Gorman said. "Our produce is planted and harvested by our farmers and brought to our market."

The Downtown Evanston Farmers' Market is due to take place every Saturday from May 2 to Nov. 7 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on University Place at Oak Avenue — behind the Maple Avenue Garage, where free parking is available. City staff encouraged customers to come later in the day to avoid long lines at the market's opening.