The Hiawatha Farmers Market will open on Sunday, June 7th, 10:00am-1:00pm in the Guthridge Park 10th Avenue Parking Lot.
If you are sick with any of the following symptoms, stay home: fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle fatigue, chills, shaking with chills, loss of smell or taste. Other symptoms such as headache or digestive symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or lack of appetite) are potential symptoms related to COVID‐19 and may prompt further screening, action or investigation.
If you believe you have been exposed to someone with COVID‐19, or have symptoms of illness, you may not go out in public. Older adults and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions – including serious heart conditions, chronic lung conditions, including moderate to severe asthma, severe obesity and those who are immunocompromised, including through cancer treatment – may have a higher risk for severe illness from COVID‐19. We want to minimize the risk of spreading COVID‐19 within our farmers market, so if you are sick or have been exposed or are at higher risk for severe illness – stay home, do not go to the farmers market.
Prohibited Activity for Vendors and Customers
- No social gatherings.
- No entertainment shows or activity at the market.
- No community or agency display tents.
- No food trucks or prepared food for consumption on site.
- No arts, crafts, jewelry etc.
- No on‐site food preparation or sampling.
- No line of standing customers outside the market/at the entrance or exit of the market.
- No children under the age of 14 allowed, if unaccompanied by an adult.
- No pets (service animals permitted) allowed.
Sanitation Measures
- All market staff, volunteers, and vendors must wear face coverings.
- Market staff and vendors must routinely clean and disinfect tables, common areas, and other contact points with products recommended by the Iowa Public Health (IPH) Department and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
- Market vendors must use an alcohol‐based hand rub (ABHR) with greater than 60 percent ethanol or 70 percent isopropanol and routinely wash hands between transactions.
- The City will provide 4 handwashing stations throughout the market as recommended by IPH and CDC for market visitors, vendors and staff.
Setting up the Market
- Market manager (or a designee) will place vendors accordingly to promote social distancing. There will be one open stall between each vendor (9ft).
- Market managers (or a designee) will set up cones in front of vendor booths to show customers 6ft distancing guidelines and promote up to 2 customers per vendor at a time.
- Market managers will post clear signage with “Market Rules for Customers” at the entrances to the market.
Customer Walk‐Through
- Market staff must direct customers to progress through the market as it is not a time to congregate.
- Market staff must place signs throughout the market and remind customers of the 6 feet distancing while inside the market area.
- Market staff will monitor the number of customers at the market. If over-crowding occurs staff will limit the number of customers allowed in at one time.
Options that are not required by Vendors, but available.
- Pre‐ordering from vendors by phone for customer pick-up.
- If vendors would like their contact information shared on the City of Hiawatha Website and social media pages, please let the market manager know.
Market Vendors
- Market vendors must wear sanitary face coverings and follow hand sanitizing/washing measures at regular intervals. Gloves recommended whenever possible.
- Market vendors must remain in their booths.
- Market vendors must provide a barrier/distance at the front of their booth to provide 6 feet of distance between the vendor and the customer.
- Market vendors must place all items out of the customer’s reach, vendors must hand items to the customer for purchase.
- Market vendors should be pre‐packaging bags of fruit, vegetables, other items to limit customers’ handling of items and to keep customers moving along.
- Market vendors must display a clear and legible price list of items for sale and remind customers please no touching at the front of their booth.
- Market vendors must manage and dispose of their own waste safely.
- Market vendors are recommended to price items in even dollar amounts to limit cash handling, and use electronic payment whenever possible.
Market Rules for Customers
| Do’s | |
| ● Cover your face – Please wear face coverings. Customers are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering when visiting the market to prevent the spread of germs and protect others.
● Wait your turn – up to 2 customers per vendor at a time. ● Shop independently – Only one family member attend the market whenever possible. No children (under the age of 14) allowed if unaccompanied by an adult. ● No pets allowed. (only service animals) ● Social distance – Keep, at minimum, 6 feet of distance between yourself and other customers, vendors, and market staff. ● Electronic Payment ‐ Please use electronic payment or credit cards where you can. Follow instructions carefully from vendor on how to use credit card with them. ● Wash your produce –wipe down any packaging with anti-viral solution when you get home. |
Don’ts
● No lingering – Do not linger or congregate inside of the market. Spend as little time as possible at each Vendor tent to allow a continuous flow of customers through the Market.
● No touching – Do not touch market items. Tell the Vendor what you would like to purchase, and the Vendor will bag the items for you.
● You must move continuously through the market.
Coming to the Hiawatha Farmers Market may not be the same experience as before, but the market is dedicated to mitigating the effects of COVID‐19 by staying in compliance with these protocols and ensuring a safe place to purchase food. If Market Vendors and/or Customers cannot abide by these protocols it may result in the closure of that Farmers Market.
Thank you for your cooperation!
The City of Hiawatha Parks and Recreation Department
