The 38th season of the Homewood Farmers Market got under way Saturday morning under a sunny sky, cool temperatures and pandemic restrictions. Patrons seemed happy to have the market open in spite of the limitations.
The 38th season of the Homewood Farmers Market got under way Saturday morning under a sunny sky, cool temperatures and pandemic restrictions.
A few of the early shoppers gave the market good reviews for its operations under guidelines established in consultation with the Cook County Department of Public Health.
The new market rules resemble what shoppers experience at grocery stores. Face coverings are required for shoppers and vendors. Markings on the street offer guidance on maintaining 6-foot distance from others. Capacity is limited to 30 patrons, and once reached, new shoppers will only be allowed in as others leave.
“It’s better than not having it,” Sharon Sedgwick said.
She was shopping with Carl Wahlstrom.
“It seemed to work out quite well,” he said. “We got quite a bit of fresh produce. It’s set up safely.”
Patti Flanagan of Flossmoor agreed. With three bags of items in tow, she stopped to share her initial impressions.
“I think it’s fantastic. They did a great job,” she said. “I appreciate the senior hour.”
The market’s first hour, from 8 to 9 a.m., is reserved for seniors, who often are more vulnerable to serious cases of COVID-19 if they become infected, and for people with disabilities, who might need assistance.
Megan Brackin gave the experience a mixed review, mainly because the restrictions specifically discourage socializing.
“I’m glad they are here. It gave me a chance to get fresh produce and get outside,” she said, but noted that she missed the opportunities for families to gather. “My kids are sad about that, too.”
Homewood Events Manager Allisa Opyd said she thinks the grocery shopping experience helped prepare people for the new market protocols, giving them time to acclimate to new ways of doing business. Stores now operate under similar restrictions.
Market Manager Kate Duff said patrons were patient and supportive.
“We have a great town and they understand that it’s a different year,” she said.
Turnout was good, she said. Nearly 300 people attended, which is low for an opening day, but because of the capacity limitation, it meant no one had to stand in line for very long but vendors still did decent business.
Reconfiguring the market took quite a bit of time and planning, Duff said. She started doing research about how the market could be operated during the pandemic when the March indoor market was canceled.
After working with the Illinois Farmers Market Association, borrowing ideas from the state of Michigan and consulting with the Cook County Department of Public Health, she came up with a plan to present to village officials.
“The village administration needed to be convinced of the safety. I do truly believe that the farmers market we’ve set up is the safest food shopping environment that you can find in Homewood,” she said, noting the outdoor location and no-touch rule.
The market will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday through the summer and early fall.
The village is offering a number of special services to help make the market experience more convenient in spite of the new restrictions, including curbside pickup of items ordered in advance and volunteer runners to help with shopping.
Visit the market web page to find links to vendors.