Wednesday, June 3, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
5
Market opening this weekend
By Audry Tehan
Executive Director Seed to Table
The countdown to the
opening day of the Sisters
Farmers Market is on. This
Sunday, June 7 from 11
a.m. to 2 p.m., market ven-
dors, volunteers, and Seed to
Table staff will provide local
abundance.
Under new management
and increased safety regula-
tions due to the COVID-19
pandemic, visitors can expect
a slightly different experi-
ence from years past. What
isn9t changing, though, is the
opportunity to shop a bounty
of local goods, support our
hard-working farmers and
producers, and tap into the
resiliency that this commu-
nity creates amidst challeng-
ing times.
Market management will
provide new infrastructure to
promote the safety of all par-
ticipants, and is putting faith
in new and returning custom-
ers to learn about and adhere
to new regulations in order to
help protect our community.
Social distancing will be in
effect, with single entrance
and exit points and at least
six feet of space between
booths and people. Online
pre-ordering and curbside
pick-up will be an option for
even less physical contact.
Vendors will be handling all
food and will not be giving
out samples.
All activities and music
will be postponed.
Market-goers are asked to
leave pets at home, wear face
coverings, and use the avail-
able hand washing stations.
And perhaps most challeng-
ing for some, the market will
not be serving as a social
gathering, but rather a space
to efficiently source local
products and essential goods.
These changes may take
some getting used to, espe-
cially to long-time market
participants, but within our
resilient community it is clear
that the positives will out-
weigh the negatives. For one,
the Sisters Farmers Market is
still able to provide an essen-
tial service that is at its core
4 getting locally-produced
goods to shoppers and keep-
ing our dollars and diets
local. Online orders may
even provide farmers and
producers growth in average
sales due to increased acces-
sibility. In addition to safety,
the market will have a pri-
mary focus on food access,
with Seed To Table offering
discounted produce at their
stand for families directly
affected by COVID-19.
The mission of the Sisters
Farmers Market is to sup-
port a healthier community
through partnerships, edu-
cational programming, and
essential infrastructure for
organic farmers, artisans, and
local food producers. Market
Manager, Caroline Hager,
shares that she is, <optimistic
for the collaboration between
all of those involved with
the market to see beyond the
temporary nuances and unite
in these common goals.=
The new educational pro-
gramming is another positive
development being intro-
duced through the market to
the community this year.
Each week, Seed to
Table will be providing
free take-home Activity
Kits for elementary-aged
Gypsy
Wind
Clothing
NOW OPEN AT OUR
NEW LOCATION!
183 E. HOOD AVE.
Hours: Wed.-Sat., 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Do you have the coverage you need?
We underwrite
all types of
insurance for
contracting
and general
trades.
AUTO • HOME • HEALTH • LIFE • BUSINESS • FARM • RENTAL
541-549-3172
1-800-752-8540
704 W. Hood Ave., Sisters
youth. These interactive
kits will provide children
with hands-on activities to
sprout their creative minds
at home without any screen
time. Focusing on science,
nutrition, and art, children
will develop a deeper under-
standing of where our food
comes from. Follow along
with us all summer long to
learn how to make a healthy
& delicious rainbow snack,
learn the life cycle of your
PHOTO PROVIDED
favorite veggie by planting
it at home, explore your
creativity through creating
seed collages, and so much
more! Children will receive
their very own Farmers
Market Passport to track
their learning throughout the
summer. We encourage you
to share stories and photos
of your child9s learning for a
chance to win some monthly
prizes at the Sisters Farmers
Market!
Questions? Email educa
tion@seedtotablesisters.org.