Shoppers flocked, purchased produce and enjoyed the sunset at the Old Town Clovis Farmers Market Friday evening. For a few hours, everything seemed back to normal, even a bit lively, at the first Friday farmers market since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Still, there were reminders everywhere of the current climate of social distancing. Signs were posted asking customers to practice good hygiene and remain home if sick. The loudspeaker occasionally interrupted the market to encourage distancing and discourage socializing.
Carole Lester, CEO of Business Organization of Old Town, said the market was meant to support local producers during tough times, while protecting shoppers as much as possible.
“We’ve been following the city and public health department’s guidance,” Lester explained. “The growers and their produce needed to be harvested, and they’ve been coming here for 30 years, so that’s why we opened it up.”
One grower, Alex Garcia, was selling a wide variety of fruits and greens Friday night. If it wasn’t for the farmers market, Garcia says, his produce would become compost.
“We would’ve had a significant loss of money without this market,” Garcia said. “Our workers would’ve been at risk of losing their jobs.”
Farmers were not the only ones benefiting from the market’s reopening. Hundreds of Clovis residents enjoyed a beautiful warm evening while buying their fruit and produce.
“There were a lot of vendors tonight, which is great because they don’t have a lot of these items in stores,” said resident Virginia Estrada, who came to the market with her husband, Daniel. “This was our first time going to the market since moving to Clovis, and we will definitely go again.”
The Estradas, like many other shoppers, were wearing masks as a precaution, and all vendors were required to put on masks and gloves as well. In addition, no shoppers were allowed to touch the produce on tables. All of these rules were part of a prudent effort by BOOT, the market’s organizers, to keep Friday evening safe and successful.
“The most important thing,” Lester said, “is that people come here and feel safe.”