DETROIT: For a dozen years, Johnny Gyergyou has sold meat, poultry and eggs from his Berlin Township livestock farm at Eastern Market in Detroit in the US.
Lately, he’s been staying home as fear of the COVID-19 virus has kept thousands of shoppers away from the popular venue northeast of downtown. “The crowds are small and there aren’t many vendors,” said Gyergyou, adding that it’s just not cost-effective to haul the loads 33 miles to Detroit where they may or may not sell.
“We’ve been doing fairly well (selling) at the farm. It’s not Eastern Market sales by no means, but at least it’s helping us along here,” said Gyergyou, 72.
Farmers, growers and operators of open-air markets are heading into a busy time of the year as many states still are under stay-at-home orders for residents and non-essential businesses to slow the spread of the coronavirus which has killed more than 60,000 people in the US and at least 230,000 worldwide.
Shoppers venturing out this year are just as likely to come across tables of hand sanitizer and face mask-wearing produce peddlers as they are to see bushels of corn, quarts of blueberries or flats of petunias. Many venues have moved to drive-thru shopping, reduced days or hours, and fencing to control crowds.
At the farmers market near London, England’s, Primrose Hill neighborhood, shopping is restricted to a few people at a time who are given gloves upon entering. Vendors are spread out and work behind plastic shields.
Detroit’s Eastern Market is considering fencing. Six-foot by six-foot grids will be painted on floors as a reminder to social distance.
About a dozen vendors are participating in drive-thru shopping on Tuesdays. “It’s my feeling after listening to people that they’re scared to go down to Detroit with it being a hotspot (for the COVID-19 virus),” said Gyergyou, hoping for a return to normalcy soon. “I’m anxious to get back there.”
Detroit has topped 9,000 confirmed virus cases and more than 1,000 deaths.
The farmers market in Overland Park, Kansas, outside of Kansas City, Missouri, has been relocated to the city’s convention center where patrons drive past vendors who bring produce to their vehicles.
Vermont officials are requiring all farmers markets to be held outdoors. Entertainment, children activities and cooking demonstrations have been suspended to prevent people from congregating in small spaces.
The Bennington Farmers’ Market was scheduled to reopen on Saturday as a pre-order drive-thru market.
In Montpelier, the Capital City Market was prepared for both pre-order pickups and in-person shoppers with no more than 10 people in the market at a time. Vendors must be spaced 12 feet apart and wear face coverings and gloves.
Such precautions can take some of the joy out of outdoor shopping, but that is the price of safety.
from Business & Economy https://ift.tt/3aSSmjj
via Latest News of Dubai
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