SNAP: COVID-19 Waivers by State

On April 10, 2020, USDA issued a letter denying several types of waivers requested by state SNAP agencies that do not meet requirements for approval.  FNS is working to add those requests to the individual state pages listed in the link below.

ILFMA: 10 Tips for Marketing Your Farmers Market During COVID-19

WEBINAR: Market managers are presented with the difficult task of marketing their market’s upcoming opening while also making sure they’re communicating to vendors, staff volunteers, and shoppers a myriad of new rules for operating a market during COVID-19. So, how do market managers make it all happen…and still sound hopeful and excited for the upcoming season? In this webinar, ILFMA will cover 10 tips for marketing your farmers market that you can incorporate into your PR and communications efforts right now.

CA Alliance of Farmers’ Markets: Practices at Market in Response to COVID-19

WEBINAR: The California Alliance of Farmers’ Markets hosted a COVID–19 Response/Best Practices webinar. We had a panel of speakers that represented farmers‘ markets across California.

Our Call to Action: Market operators and managers everywhere, we invite you to join forces as we ~UNITE~ and ~RISE~ to the occasion of keeping our markets OPEN and SAFE.

Go here to find up-to-date COVID–19 farmers’ market resources/best practices.

COVID-19 and Virginia’s Farmers Markets Protocols

We believe that farmers markets provide vital food access services to our community, and we will continue to do so as safely as possible The health, safety and overall wellbeing of our farmers market community is always our top priority.

With this in mind, we have been closely monitoring the rapidly-changing situation around COVID-19 (commonly referred to as coronavirus), responding to new information as it arises and preparing for all possible scenarios, with the goal of farmer’s markets continuing to safely serve Virginia’s communities.

As the spread of COVID-19 has become a reality in Virginia, market operators are developing communications, preparing contingency plans and, in some regions, beginning to modify operations. Some public health officials may require that markets close until the outbreak diminishes.

To help market operators adapt to this rapidly changing economic and public health situation, the Virginia Farmers Market Association has compiled information and recommendations from farmers markets, state associations, health departments and the Centers for Disease Control.

Alaska: COVID-19 GUIDANCE FOR FARMERS MARKETS

We believe that farmers markets provide vital food access services to our community.

Under the Governor’s Health Mandates, Farmers Markets, like grocery stores and supermarkets, are considered “essential businesses.” To help market operators adapt to this rapidly changing economic and public health situation, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Alaska Farmers Market Association have compiled information and recommendations from farmers markets, state associations, health departments and the Centers for Disease Control.

Nutrition Incentive Hub: COVID-19 Nutrition Incentives Response

This resource is intended to be a working document, comprised of practitioner perspectives and ideas. The attached information is not intended to be a formal endorsement of any practice. If you would like to provide input, email Abigail Warren at awarren@fairfoodnetwork.org.

Includes:

• Areas for Adaptation
• Opportunities & Resources

Safe Supply Field Guide

SAFE SUPPLY is an outdoor grocery store designed to support local food producers and provide communities with a safer shopping alternative during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INSIDE THE GUIDE:

• Vendor Guidelines
• Vendor Tent Layout Diagram
• Market Layout Diagram
• Things We Learned Along the Way

Oxford Community Market: Farmers Markets During Crisis

Ideas for Keeping Your Market Open & Safe

• Sample Safety Plan
• Not Business As Usual: Process of Elimination
• Communication: Reassuring Your Customers
• Communication: Supporting Your Vendors
• Create Vendor Guidelines For Your Market
• Creating Visual Cues to Enforce Safety Guidelines
• Streamlining Your Market Space
• Create Hand Sanitizing Stations
• The 6 Feet Rule
• Barriers: Managing the Entrance & Flow of Traffic
• Consider Offering Modified Online Ordering & Curbside Pick-Up

MIFMA: How to Clean SNAP Tokens

How to Clean SNAP Tokens

Hard surfaces can harbor bacteria and germs. Attached are some steps you can take to improve the cleanliness of your market’s tokens and protect the safety of your market’s customers, vendors, and staff.

Includes:

1. How to Clean Metal or Plastic Tokens
2. How to Clean Wooden Tokens

Penn State Extension/PASA: COVID-19 Guidelines for Farmers Markets (Checklist)

This is an open-source resource created by Penn State Extension in collaboration with Pasa
Sustainable Agriculture, to be used for developing guidelines that can be shared and modified
as needed to ensure safe operation of farmers markets that protect both vendors and
customers while providing essential food for the communities they serve.

Further guideline information can be found at https://extension.psu.edu/minimizing-risks-for-coronavirus-transmission-at-farmers-markets-on-farm-markets-you-pick-operations-and-produce-auctions.
Have other ideas or questions? Contact Hannah Smith-Brubaker at hannah@pasafarming.org
with ideas or questions regarding farm businesses, or Brian Moyer at bfm3@psu.edu with ideas
or questions regarding farmers markets.