Wrightstown Farmers Market Opens May 2 With Safety Precautions

WRIGHTSTOWN, PA — Organizers of the Wrightstown Farmers Market are moving ahead with the May 2 opening day of the regular market season. However, there will be some precautions to ensure safety during the coronavirus pandemic.

Market hours will be Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, but between 9 and 10 a.m. is shopping for seniors and those with high-risk health issues. The market's location will remain at The Anchor Church (980 Durham Road), instead of at the Wrightstown Township’s municipal grounds.

The final winter Wrightstown Market will be held at The Anchor Church on April 25. While normally held indoors from 10-12 PM, it has moved outside so vendors can be spaced at least 20 feet apart, organizers said.

Before heading to the market, shoppers are encouraged to check the Market’s website, e-newsletter, Facebook page, and Instagram, to learn about the latest protocols, place online pre-orders, and pay ahead. "These procedures allow customers to simply pick up their packages without contact at the Market," organizers said in a news release.

Here are some of the safety precautions that will be implemented:

• Vendors wear masks and stay six feet from customers.
• Customers are asked to bring exact change and place cash in no-contact containers if they haven’t pre-paid.
• An hour has been added from 9-10 a.m. for seniors and those with high-risk health issues to pick up their products.
• To discourage lingering and chatting, for now, activities, music and chef demos have been cancelled, and there will be no seating.
• Dogs are not permitted.
• Customers must wear masks and are asked to bring their own hand sanitizer or wipes.
• One-way pavement arrows and duct tape markings remind customers to maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing.
• Credit cards and devices will be sanitized between transactions.

“The protocols seem to be working,” said Market Manager Cheryl Gilmore. She said customers are wearing masks and gloves to pick up their bags of pre-ordered meats, vegetables, breads, honey, soups, prepared dinners, eggs, cheeses and other products. "We are fortunate to be outdoors and not crowded, and grateful to the Anchor Church for the use of their grounds.”

To pre-order and pre-pay for the next market, visit the Market’s website at: wrightstownfarmersmarket.org. There, you can find links to individual vendors’ online stores. Customers must place orders by the Thursday before the Saturday market.

"The strategies for keeping safe in order to procure necessary food during the pandemic are constantly evolving. The market will continue to closely follow new information from the developing science and recommendations from the experts," organizers said in the news release.

Shoppers are asked to follow the latest market location updates and customer shopping rules for the market, to sign up for the e-newsletter at wrightstownfarmersmarket.org and follow additional updates on Facebook or Instagram.