Bel Air Farmers' Market To Continue Despite Coronavirus

BEL AIR, MD — The Bel Air Farmers' Market will open this weekend for the season. Due to the new coronavirus, some new rules will be in place in the interest of public health.

Opening day for the Bel Air Farmers' Market will be Saturday, April 11.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture issued a statement "asking that farmers markets remain open during the current state of emergency," noting that farmers markets are deemed essential by the governor.

"Farmers markets play a critical role in providing fresh, nutritious and locally-produced food products to customers across the state — especially those Marylanders who live in food deserts and those who rely on SNAP benefits to access fresh produce," Maryland Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder said in a statement. "It is important that we keep that supply line open while making sure we implement the same preventative measures used in grocery stores and other essential retail businesses."

The Bel Air Farmers' Market reports these measures will help limit the spread of the virus:

• The market will take up the entire parking lot outside Harford County District Court to allow for increased social distancing.
• No pets will be allowed.
• Shoppers must keep 6 feet between one another.
• Vendors will bag items; shoppers should not touch products. "Shop with your eyes," experts advise.
• Do not come with a group. One person per household should come.
• Bring cash and credit card. Check the website in case some vendors allow prepayment to limit the need for hand-to-hand interaction.*

The Bel Air Farmers' Market will be at 2 South Bond Street in Bel Air. It runs from April through December. Hours are 7 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 11.

* These vendors have allowed preordering/prepayment:

• Bees By The Bay is offering advance purchases online or by phone at 443-797-4509.
• Belvedere Farm will reportedly post a list for online ordering of its flowers.
• Brogues Hydroponics is taking preorders and payment at broguehydrodelivery@gmail.com.
• Brooms Bloom will accept Venmo at the market.
• Calvert's Gift Farm encourages shoppers to visit www.calvertsgiftfarm.com to preorder.
• Coffee Coffee offers online ordering at https://coffeecoffeebelair.square.site.
• Crooked Creek Farm is taking preorders online or by email at info@crookedcreekfarm-md.com.
• Flowers by Dene: Go to the Facebook page for Flowers by Dene to see a list of herbs that will be available. Customers can send a Facebook message. Venmo and Apple Pay will be accepted.
• Flying Plow Farm will take preorders and payments online.
• Love.Crust.Pizza will accept prepayment via Venmo or PayPal under the name LoveCrustPizza. Put your pizza choice and pickup name in the description area online. See the menu for the farmers market, where cash and credit cards will also be accepted.
• My Canine Cucina is accepting preorders for its dog food and will also accept Venmo or Square payments in person at the market.