Calumet Farmers Market in full swing
CALUMET — With the ongoing community spread of COVID-19 in Houghton County, extra precautions are being taken with the Calumet Farmers Market to further protect customers and vendors.
“With the latest from Gov. (Gretchen) Whitmer, we did update our policies,” said Leah Polzien. “We now require customers to wear a face covering unless they are medically unable to do so or under the age of 5.”
In addition, she said, customers who are unable to wear a face mask for medical reasons are asked to respect the social distancing guideline of maintaining a six-foot distance from other people.
Polzien is the executive director of Main Street Calumet.
On July 10, Whitmer signed executive order 2020-147, which reiterates that individuals are required to wear a face covering whenever they are in an indoor public space. It also requires the use of face coverings in crowded outdoor spaces, such as farmers markets. The order also requires any business that is open to the public to refuse entry or service to people who refuse to wear a face covering, with limited exceptions.
Governors in the states of Kansas, Maine, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Washington have imposed similar requirements on businesses.
Main Street Calumet, however, began its 2020 season on June 10 with strict precautions against COVID-19 already in place, which include:
• Vendors wear masks, and in addition to masks;
• Market volunteers wear gloves when handing money or tokens;
• The market has hand-wash stations and sanitizer available at multiple locations, and high-touch surfaces will be sanitized regularly;
• The Market requests that anyone with symptoms please stay home, and when attending, please respect social distancing guidelines.
Polzien said Main Street Calumet is seeking ways to expand it offerings.
“We are always looking for ways to grow our market,” she said, “and that means we need more farmers and food producers to participate.”
Polzien said she would like to encourage anyone who farms, bakes, or picks/harvests local foods, to attend.
“We require everyone to complete an application,” she said. An online application is available at:
https://www.mainstreetcalumet.com/uploads/8/4/6/9/8469411/market_application_2020_final_v1.pdf
Polzien said she has always wondered why people do not pick “a bunch” of blueberries and strawberries and attend the market for a couple of weekends.
“Seems like it would a be a great way for kids to make some money,” she said, “and all of us are hungry for that local fruit!”
The day vendor fee is $10 a day and includes a tent and table, she said.