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,