A modified version of the Burien Farmers Market will re-open at Town Square Park this Thursday, May 7, 2020, with new precautions as mandated by Public Health – Seattle & King County.

Hours of operation have changed a bit, with a new Senior/Vulnerable Hour added from 10 – 11 a.m., and regular hours running from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The Burien Farmers Market will be held every Thursday until Oct. 29, 2020.

Farmers markets were listed as “essential infrastructure” in Governor Inslee’s proclamation on March 23, 2020.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the open-air market has re-configured its layout to encourage proper social distancing and additional measures to ensure the safety of patrons, vendors, workers, and passersby.

NOTE: If you are not feeling well, you are encouraged *not* to visit.

    • The market is outdoor only and organizers will discourage crowding by having one way in and one way out with markings on the asphalt for six-foot distancing and cones down the center to encourage one-way traffic.
    • There will also be caution tape on the front and back of each booth to corral shoppers in the holding area for purchasing their goods.
    • Organizers will abide by the two customers per vendor booth rule, essentially that one booth = 2 customers in at any given time with appropriate markings every six feet. They will have designated counters ensuring this to be the case and for control of the entrance and exit points.

The plan includes information on how the market will control for health screening, social distancing and sanitation:

    • Social Distancing: maintain a 6-foot distance between yourself and others at all times
    • Handwashing: use hand washing stations when entering the market and regularly while shopping.
    • No Contact: don’t handle products; use card or exact change if possible; bag your own purchases
    • Be Prepared: send one person per household; pre-order if possible; shop and depart quickly
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The vendor list for opening day, Thursday, May 7, 2020:

    • La Liath Bakery
    • Sidhu Farms
    • Treat Yourself Cookies
    • Homemade in Connie’s Kitchen
    • Gustoblende
    • Our Family Farm
    • It’s Elemental (soap)
    • Forest Fairy Bakery
    • Dewdrop’s Perch
    • Fernandez Farms
    • Puget Sound Cider Company
    • Bautista Farms
    • Nature Stewards Program (edible plants)

Here are more details from Discover Burien:

Health Screening:
Market staff – The Burien Farmers Market staff consists of two people – the Market Manager and Assistant Market Manager. Both staff members will be screened for COVID-19 before beginning work at the market each week. The screening will consist of a temperature reading and survey.

If either staff member has symptoms or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 symptoms, the following will be done:

    • Immediately send the sick employee home where they will remain in isolation for seven days after symptoms begin or until 72 hours after fever is gone and symptoms get better – whichever one is longer.
    • If any staff member or volunteer has been in close contact (about 10 minutes) with the person who is sick or might be sick with COVID-19 symptoms, they should leave immediately and quarantine for 14 days in their home. If they develop symptoms (including shortness of breath, fever or cough), they should seek medical attention immediately.
    • Staff who have not been in close contact with the sick person (and are not sick) are considered to be low-risk and may continue to work, but should monitor their health for 14 days and stay away from others if they become sick.
    • If our staff has fever with cough or shortness of breath, but have not been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and have not tested positive for COVID-19, they should stay home away from others and avoid public places until 72 hours after the fever is gone and symptoms get better. If they show up to work, we will send them home immediately with no interaction with the public.
    • Normal cleaning and sanitizing procedures will be followed, with extra attention to high touch surfaces. Disinfectant will be used in all non-food areas.
      • Vendors – The Market Manager and/or Assistant Market Manager will ensure all vendors are screened for COVID-19 symptoms before beginning work each week. This includes using an online survey where vendors will have to register any symptoms and a temperature reading before beginning each week.
      • Customers – All customers have to pass by the main booth to be allowed into the market and there is only one entrance and exit. Anyone exhibiting symptoms will be turned away from the Burien Farmers Market and unable to shop.
      • High-Risk Category – The high-risk category includes people over the age of 60, pregnant women, people with underlying health conditions (including heart disease, lung disease and/or diabetes), and people with weakened immune systems. In order to help protect these populations, we are instituting the following:
    • We have instituted a shopping hour before the start of the weekly market in an effort to discourage infection in the high-risk community, which includes people over the age of 60, pregnant women, people with underlying health conditions (including heart disease, lung disease and/or diabetes), and people with weakened immune systems. Anyone in this group will be encouraged to attend the one hour before the market opens each week. If someone from this group shows up outside of this specified shopping hour, we will offer a concierge service with their shopping list as they wait in a designated (appropriately spaced) holding area for their food.
      • Market staff – Debra George (Market Manager) and Sarah Toce (Assistant Market Manager) will be responsible for the health screenings of staff, vendors and customers.

Social Distancing
We plan to adhere to social distancing requirements at all times with procedures relating to vendors, customers, market staff, and any volunteers in the following ways:

      • The Market Manager and Assistant Market Manager will be on-site weekly to watch and ensure that vendors are keeping adequate social distancing during set-up and tear-down. Booths will be gapped appropriately and we will not allow neighboring vendors to load in or out at the same time.
      • Booths will be gapped 10 ft., which will discourage social gathering or crowding. Markings every six feet with each booth, similar to the entry point so that it clearly marks safe distancing. One family at the booth at one time. There will be a holding area for other shoppers waiting to enter the booth. We will ensure these rules are being followed and signage will be properly displayed largely for customers so there is a mutual understanding of expectations. No more than two people at a booth at one time. Customers will see markings every six feet within holding areas as well, just like the entry point.
      • Our market is outdoor only and we will discourage crowding by having one way in and one way out of the market with markings on the asphalt for six-foot distancing and cones down the center to encourage one-way traffic. There will also be caution tape on the front and back of each booth to corral shoppers in the holding area for purchasing their goods. We will abide by the two customers per vendor booth rule, essentially that one booth = 2 customers in at any given time with appropriate markings every six feet. We will have designated counters ensuring this to be the case and for control of the entrance and exit points.
      • Customers will begin lining up east of our main farmers market booth for entrance every six feet with markings on the sidewalk. Signage will illuminate the path into the market in an effort to reiterate COVID-19 modified rules and regulations.
      • Booths will be spaced so that every 10-ft tent has a 10-ft gap before the next booth. That 10 ft gap is where we expect customers to purchase their goods, not in front of the tent where crowds could potentially gather. This ensures safety for all involved – and adequate spacing.
      • The signage we will use to notify customers about social distancing expectations will be placed at the entrance of the market and throughout. They will be printed on large paper and also on smaller posters. People in line will be able to see these posters as they inch into the market (every six feet with controlled entrance marking how many are in at one time). An example of our signage is attached with this email.
      • Debra George (Market Manager) and Sarah Toce (Assistant Market Manager) will be responsible for ensuring social distancing is being adhered to properly and within guidelines.
      • We will ask anyone not in compliance to leave the market.

Sanitation:

      • Our sanitation plan includes sanitizing common contact surfaces, especially high contact surfaces, every 30 minutes. We have an arrangement with Burien Press to allow our vendors and customers to use their restrooms during the market day.
      • We plan to provide adequate hand wash stations for vendors, customers and staff. We will have one at the beginning, middle and end of the market and all vendors required to provide their own hand wash stations. Vendors are responsible for bringing their own hot water, prefill insulated water container(s). Paper towels and soap are provided by Burien Farmers Market. We are also encouraging vendors and customers to carry hand sanitizer as an extra precaution.
      • We have approval from Burien Press that farmers market vendors can use the bathrooms at Burien Press if needed. Matt Wendland, owner of Burien Press, is responsible for adhering to all guidelines and safety initiatives.
      • Debra George (Market Manager) and Sarah Toce (Assistant Market Manager) will be responsible for ensuring sanitation plans are being met appropriately.
      • Hand sanitizer and hand wash stations will be made available at market entry and exit points.
      • A staff designated hand wash station will be set up in the market booth. A public wash station and two or more sanitizing stations will be placed as well throughout the market.
      •  A temporary handwashing station will be required in every vendor booth.
      • Except for produce, all food and bakery products must be prepackaged.
      • Signage will be displayed not to touch produce.
      • Sampling, food prepared at the market (food booths or mobile food trucks), craft booths, entertainment, flowers and other non-essential services will be excluded until we are told it is safe to bring them into the market.
      • Vendors approved for the market will only be selling items that are considered part of an essential business as defined by the Governor’s order.

Summary report:

      • The staff will discuss and recap the day’s events and what went well, what didn’t, and figure out ways to correct it for the following week. We have an iPad ready to store the documentation and will use it appropriately for this reason.
      • We will provide a summary report to Public Health weekly that includes:
        • Health checks
        • Social distancing
        • Sanitation
        • We will provide a weekly summary with photos and/or videos of the market set-up that includes signage, social distancing, queueing up inside and outside the market, hand wash stations, and sanitation.
      • Debra George or Sarah Toce will be charged with documenting and submitting the summary report to Public Health.

Further Recommendations:

      • We understand that PHSKC strongly recommends that vendors offer prepaid delivery and/or preorder options to customers to further reduce social interactions at the market and will continue to communicate and advocate for this method with our vendors.

A farmer’s market plan, once approved, will be considered approved only on a contingency basis, allowing for weekly review. Under the following circumstances, Public Health can require the market to discontinue:

    • PH receives a number of legitimate complaints regarding a lack of compliance.
    • Lack of verification/documentation.
    • Lack of follow-up with identified issues.
    • Reports of exposures to COVID-19, or of illnesses resulting from exposure and failure to manage the situation.

Here’s more info from the Washington State Farmers Market Association:

“Farmers markets are essential services, providing healthy food from our local farms safely to communities across the state. And to protect the health of our community, farmers markets will operate differently for now. Each farmers market has worked with public health to maximize your safety and minimize risk. Farmers markets now operate with social distancing, reduced contact points, increased sanitation, and PPE. We urge all shoppers to follow restrictions.

“While farmers markets will look different, they offer the same direct connection with local farmers who are taking every measure to grow fresh produce, meats, eggs, dairy, and more for you and your family. We depend on them for our local food system, and they depend on us too. Please click the “Farmers Market Schedule Updates” for the most recent information about your farmers market.”

More info here:

Town Square Park is located at 480 SW 152nd Street:

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