hoodrivernews.com
Wednesday, April 1, 2020 A9
HOOD RIVER NEWS | Hood River, Ore.
NEW OWNER: Hood River News will be part of Gorge-area publication
continued from A1
both stewards and watchdogs.
“Loyal readers and advertis-
ers have enabled the Chron-
icle, News and Enterprise to
be successful over many years.
That isn’t the case any more in
many communities through-
out the United States, and
world for that matter, where
newspapers have shut down.
"Newspapers can be the
social fabric of a community.
Long-time residents likely have
read their names or had their
photo published in the news-
paper for one reason or an-
other,” Petshow said. “Maybe
they’ve read sports stories
about their children or grand-
children. Or perhaps it was a
story about the honor roll or
school play. Those connections
are part of what make local
newspapers unique, including
how they can bind together a
community.”
Marr said this (March 31)
newspaper is the last issue
under the ownership of Eagle
Newspapers, but The Dalles,
Hood River and White Salm-
on — and the surrounding
communities in the Gorge —
deserve an ongoing local news
presence.
“The company, and its
owner, Denny Smith, have
been strong supporters of local
journalism in our small com-
munities for decades,” Marr
said. “Newspapers around the
country have been struggling
for years, the recent pandemic
has been the tipping point for
some of them.
“We have 24 employees who
have worked countless hours,
not to mention years, in pro-
viding our community an es-
sential resource to their com-
munities. It’s sad to see some of
the staff of Eagle part ways, but
I am excited to see others step
up and offer ways to keep going
not just for their own sake, but
for the sake of their beloved
community newspaper.
“We will continue our news-
paper and publications for our
community. We will be transi-
tioning and will certainly have
some bumps along the way.
Please give us a brief break, as
we re-organize. If we can be
patient together, we will get
subscribers going again right
away.”
Do you want to help keep
your local newspaper? Contact
Chelsea Marr, cmarr@hoodriv-
ernews.com.
Farmers market opens Saturday
Safety protocols
strictly enforced
Farmers Markets have been
deemed essential businesses
in Oregon and allowed to open
during the COVID-19 pandem-
ic. Gorge Grown Food Network
and the market’s vendors are
taking action to keep them-
selves and shoppers safe.
“We are fortunate that we
are able to use the Fifth and
Columbia parking lot to really
spread vendors and customers
out to ensure safe social dis-
tancing,” said Hannah Ladwig,
farmers market manager. The
market has canceled all nones-
sential programming, includ-
ing youth activities and live
music. No on-site consump-
tion of food will be allowed,
and shoppers will only find
food vendors, no craft makers
or artists.
“It’s important to note that
the CDC, FDA and USDA are
not aware of any reports that
suggest coronavirus can be
transmitted by food or food
packaging. However, it is al-
ways important to follow good
hygiene practices when hand-
ing or preparing foods,” notes
the Western Regional Center to
Enhance Food Safety.
Farmers markets provide
an outlet for local farmers and
producers who are struggling
while local restaurants who
typically buy from them tem-
porarily close or limit their op-
erations, said a press release.
File photo by Kirby Neumann-Rea
PEOPLE stand close in this photo from 2019 — this year, it's all about social distancing.
The market also serves as an
important shopping option for
customers.
“Our open-air market pro-
vides key access to local food
and relieves stress on grocery
stores. High quality, nutrient
dense food is more important
than ever for our immune sys-
tem and mental health”, said
Gorge Grown Food Network’s
Executive Director Sarah Sul-
livan.
“Our regular outdoor season
typically doesn’t start until
May. But these are not normal
times and we needed to cancel
the remaining indoor market
season that was held at May
Street Elementary. So we’re
opening the outdoor season a
month earlier this year,” said
Ladwig.
With changes to market op-
erations, the market may look
a little different for a while.
Gorge Grown’s Mobile Farmers
Market will have fresh produce
from regional and local grow-
ers through the month of April
while farmers are still cultivat-
ing early crops for the market.
Vendors will not have prod-
ucts within reach of custom-
ers and many items will be
pre-bagged. Customers are
encouraged to pre-order from
vendors directly and pay with
payment aps, such as Venmo,
or debit/ credit cards to reduce
use of market tokens. Rules and
expectations for customers will
be posted at the market.
“We’re encouraging our cus-
tomers to come, shop and
head back home. We also ask
that anyone who is sick or may
have been exposed to COVID-
19 to stay home. We are com-
mitted to ensure the health and
well-being of our community
and will continue to operate
the market only if it can be
done safely,” said Ladwig.
Gorge Grown asks that cus-
tomers:
■ Bring hand sanitizer to
the market. There will also be a
hand washing stations.
■ Keep your distance: stand
8 feet from others and don’t
shop in groups. Follow social
distancing markings that will
be outlined with chalk. Oregon
Department of Agriculture
requires that the market has
designated “social distancing
officers;” please listen to these
officers at the market.
■ Download the Venmo app
to your smart phone before the
market for no-contact transac-
tions. Vendors have been asked
to do the same.
■ Wash any reusable bags
in your washing machine with
warm water before bringing
them to the market. Vendors
have been instructed not to
touch any of these items.
Senior citizens and those
with compromised immune
systems are most at risk for
COVID-19. If you are healthy,
Gorge Grown recommends
reaching out to vulnerable
neighbors to see if you can
shop for them and deliver
groceries.
As unemployment rises and
needs of vulnerable commu-
nity members grow, the mar-
ket’s food access programming
will be of increased impor-
tance. Hood River Farmers
Market accepts SNAP EBT
(“food stamps”) and provides
an additional $10 free for cus-
tomers using their benefits at
the market.
Customers can find more
information about the mar-
ket at www.gorgegrown.com/
hoodriver or contact Gorge
Grown at 541-490-6420 or
communications@gorge-
grown.com.
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