Bel Air Farmers' Market Opening Day: Vendors, Social Distancing

BEL AIR, MD — The Bel Air Farmers' Market opened for the season Saturday, with new measures in place to ensure people keep their distance from one another. Some vendors accepted prepayment to minimize the need for contact to avoid spreading the new coronavirus.

The market used the entire parking lot outside the Harford County district courthouse off Bond Street.

Here are some of the new guidelines:

• No pets were allowed.
• Shoppers had to stay at least 6 feet apart, with chalk markings on the ground designed to remind customers.
• Vendors bagged items; shoppers were advised not to touch products. "Shop with your eyes," experts advised.
• Customers were asked not to come with a group. One person per household should come.
• There was no entertainment until further notice.

"The majority of our vendors are attending," the Bel Air Farmers' Market reported before the opening. "Plenty of meats, eggs, cheese, produce and more to take care of your family pantry and refrigerator/freezer!"

These are the vendors slated to be there:

Andy's Eggs: Free-range brown eggs, chicken, turkey, dog cookies, perennials, herbs, cut flowers

AleCraft Brewery: Beer.

Belvedere Farm: People must have preordered/prepaid on the website. Flowers will be sold in bundles.

Brogue Hydroponics: Herbs, vegetables, perennials, fruits and annuals

Brooms Bloom: Pork, ice cream and cheese. Will accept Venmo.

Brooks Brand Salsa: Fresh garden and black bean salsa

Calvert's Gift Farm: Certified organic GMO free vegetables, herbs, fruit and herb transplants. Visit www.calvertsgiftfarm.com to preorder.

Coffee Coffee: Coffee, scones, cakes, fudgies, maple syrup. Online ordering available.

Crooked Creek Farm: Pork, pork breakfast sandwiches, produce.

Deep Run Farms: Vegetables

Dough Run: Granola, gruffins

Essential Earle's LLC: Natural soaps, lip balm, hair care, oils.

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.

Gardens of Joy: Cut flowers, hanging baskets, container gardens.

Granova Poultry: Natural/non-GMO chicken, six types of chicken sausage.

Hickory Chance Beef and Farm: Ground beef, beef sausage, beef jerky, roasts

Kirk's Farm: Vegetables, strawberries, blueberries, hanging baskets, plants.

Kollar Nursery: Orchids, tropical plants.

Love.Crust.Pizza: Pizza made with local ingredients in portable wood-burning oven. 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: Fresh frozen dog food and treats and cat treats. It is accepting preorders for its dog food and will also accept Venmo or Square payments in person at the market.

Pairings Bistro: Breakfast delights.

Proedge Sharpening: Sharpening of knives, scissors and shears.

Sweet D's Spreads: Homemade jams and jellies.

Shepherds Manor Creamery: Sheep cheese products and soaps.

Woolly Hill Farm: Seasonal vegetables, baked goods, handmade wooden items.

Woolsey Farm: Locally raised lamb and beef.

YogaFresh: Juicing and smoothies on-site and soups.

According to the Bel Air Farmers' Market: "Here are the vendors NOT attending this Saturday: Dawg Gone Goodies, Brad's Farm Mkt, Wilson's Farm Mkt, The Breadery, Beichler's Beyond, Good Dog Farm, Bogarty Farms, Sweet Aire Farm, Brown Croft Farm, Earle's Essential Oils, Sosnowski Mushrooms, Bushel & Peck, Saltbox Kitchen, Master Gardeners, God Scent Herbs, Magness Oils, Bees by the Bay, Boordy Vineyards(vineyard rotation spot)."

The Bel Air Farmers' Market is 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.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture has encouraged farmers markets to remain open during the coronavirus pandemic. It 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."

Related:

• Bel Air Farmers' Market To Continue Despite Coronavirus
• What Is Essential, Nonessential Business?