The Haines Farmers Market is scheduled to take place this weekend and will change how it operates amid pandemic concerns, organizer Vija Pelekis said this week.
The market opens Saturday, May 30 at the fairgrounds, and will take place weekly through the end of September.
The market will open a half hour early to allow seniors and high-risk populations to shop in a less crowded environment. Regular hours will be from 10 a.m. to noon.
This year, onsite food consumption is prohibited. Vendors or customers who are sick are asked to stay home. Vendors’ tables will be spaced 10 feet apart, and social-distancing practices will be reinforced through signage. Hand sanitizer, locally sourced from the Port Chilkoot Distillery, will be placed throughout the space. Face masks and online transactions will be encouraged, but not required.
Under state health mandates, farmers markets are considered essential businesses like grocery stores and supermarkets.
The decision to hold a market this year came after discussions with vendors, Pelekis said.
“The decision making was driven by the vendors who are willing to sell and just the feeling that despite some of the health and safety concerns, having local products being sold is important to the community for a number of different reasons,” Pelekis said.
The market’s role in promoting food security is at the top of Pelekis’ list, along with the way it promotes a sense of community and strengthens local economic ties.
“For a lot of vendors, it’s a significant way to make a portion of their summer income,” Pelekis said.
Betsy Van Burgh said the decision to participate this year was easy. She sells pottery as well as vegetables and duck eggs when she has extra. And for the first time this year, she’s going to sell bulk foods to help people reduce their use of plastic containers.
“(The farmers market) is one of my main sources of income,” Van Burgh said. Along with galleries and other open-air markets, it’s where she generates the bulk of her revenue. Many of these revenue sources have been shut off this year, so it’s nice to see the farmers market moving forward, she said.
Van Burgh said she’s not too concerned about the potential health risks.
“I’m not going to be reckless,” Van Burgh said. She said she plans to wear a mask, remain six feet from others and wipe down surfaces with bleach.
Julie Vance, who has been selling custom-crafted women’s and children’s sportswear for 15 years at festivals and farmers markets around the state, expressed similar excitement.
“I am all for it. It’s open air shopping with a great environment,” Vance said. Along with a festival scheduled for Eagle River in July, the Haines Farmers Market is one of only a few venues where she will be able to sell her products this year.
Although a number of vendors signed up, some declined to participate due to COVID-19.
“There were definitely different views,” Pelekis said. “Some vendors were very gung-ho, but there were some who opted out for personal safety reasons.”
One vendor, who usually spends the summer in Haines, won’t be participating this year because she’s stuck in France, and a couple of past vendors have switched to internet-based delivery systems for their products, Pelekis said.
Four Winds Farm owner Sally Boisvert decided to move her booth to the Fort William H. Seward parade grounds out of concern for the health of her family and customers.
“I knew I wanted a little more room. I can have a high volume of customers come at once, and I wanted to give them more space to spread out,” Boisvert said.
Boisvert’s stand will open Saturdays beginning June 6 and will run the same hours as the regular farmers market.
In past years, the Haines Farmers Market has peaked at around 21 vendors. This year will likely see lower numbers.
“This year at peak there could be fifteen vendors… and some markets might be pretty sparse, Pelekis said.
Those who attend on Saturday will still see a number of familiar stalls.
The first market of the year will feature live music, baked goods, spring rolls, herbal products, pottery and, for the first time, homemade masks, Pelekis said. And there will be more produce as the summer progresses.
“Dave the honey guy is coming up at the beginning of June, and Henderson Farm has expressed a desire to be a part of it,” Pelekis said.
Those interested in becoming vendors can contact Pelekis via email at [email protected].