Be Prepared for the New 2020 Mill City Farmers Market Shopping Experience

Please familiarize yourself with the new reality of Farmers Markets in the COVID-19 world

Farmers markets are a vital part of our food system and are essential to our farmers. The State of Minnesota considers farmers markets essential grocery providers, and the Mill City Farmers Market plans to remain open every Saturday May through October, unless otherwise directed by officials. 

Some significant changes await you at the 2020 outdoor season, which begins this Saturday, May 2. Please read this information, pre-order/pre-pay online whenever possible, and allow yourself extra time, as safety precautions and social distancing will be top priorities.

Directives via the Mill City Farmers Market website: 

When you pre-order/pre-pay online, your packaged order will be waiting for you at the vendor's booth.We have made many changes to the market to ensure the community's safety, including limiting numbers of customers and entry points and adding space between vendor's stalls to be in compliance with CDC's physical distancing guidelines. We have also cancelled market events including cooking demos, sampling, music and other entertainment.

Farmers markets have long been places to gather and build community. However, this season we must follow public health recommendations and resist the urge to linger and socialize. Please help us ensure a safe environment for everyone by following our new rules.

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2020 MARKET RULES:

• Stay home if you or someone in your home are sick.
• 8 - 9 a.m. is for immunocompromised shoppers.
• Maintain 6-foot distance from others.
• No dogs.
• Wear a face mask or covering. Our vendors and staff are wearing masks to protect you. Please wear a mask to protect them too. Many of our vendors live in rural communities, where an outbreak would be devastating to small-town hospitals.
• Limit shoppers to 1 if possible. A 2nd shopper may wait at our entrance to help carry items or pairs may separate to pick up items from multiple vendors more efficiently.
• No eating. Takeout is available from vendors at 2nd St. & Chicago Ave.
• Don't touch. Let vendors serve you.
• Limit socializing. Keep your visit short and do not linger, socialize or congregate inside the market, so our vendors can serve as many customers as possible. Save conversations for digital platforms.
• Shop efficiently. Preorder online, and shop with a grocery list. 

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To help you plan your visit, here is the May 2 Market Map.

May 2 Vendor List (those offering pre-order/pre-pay will have hyperlinks). 

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Editors Note:

I'm stressing this because I care deeply for the well-being of the MCFM vendors, staff and volunteers.

While all vendors will be offering traditional walk-up sales and accept cash and Market Tokens, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pre-order/pre-pay; and for the vendors who aren't currently offering online ordering, use a card for contactless payment with vendors who offer it. You can still get tokens at the information booth, but this is not preferred for the 2020 season.

Thank you for continuing to support the MCFM. A little inconvenience is worth it to me to have access to quality produce, cheeses, eggs, meats and other products from local producers - and I hope you feel the same way!

Kim :)