Fayetteville Farmers’ Market returns to downtown square on Saturday, June 27

Courtesy photo

The Fayetteville Farmers’ Market will return to the downtown square from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 27.

The market’s opening day on the square was postponed in March because of COVID-19. Vendors have since been set up in the Evelyn Hills Shopping Center parking lot while following state Health Department regulations for large outdoor venues. The downtown market will continue with those procedures, and face masks will be required for all customers and vendors.

The Tuesday market, which runs from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., will return to the square on July 7. No decision has been made about the Thursday market.

The downtown market will be focused solely on sales of food grown by local farmers, meaning other types of vendors or performers will not be allowed until further notice. That includes food service or food preparation vendors, campaigners, musicians and other non-food producers.

Officials said the market should not be seen as an opportunity for social gathering. For that reason, customers should not gather in groups of more than nine people and should maintain at least six feet between themselves and others, unless they are members of the same household.

Customers are encouraged to use the market’s online ordering process which includes online payment and pickup or delivery.

Weekly online orders open at 12 p.m. on Tuesdays and close at 9 p.m. on Thursdays. Orders should be placed online and then picked up on Saturdays from
8:30 a.m.to 1:30 p.m. at the Fayetteville Roots Festival headquarters, located at the southeast corner of the square.

Delivery services are provided by Seeds that Feed, and all arrangements should be directed to [email protected].

Market organizers have implemented several additional health procedures and precautions for resuming operations on the square, including:

  • Entrances and exits will be controlled to limit attendance to no more than 50 people per street within the market perimeter, for a total of 200 customers total at one time.
  • Shopping time will be limited to 30 minutes per customer.
  • Customers will be allowed entry based on a customer count which will be monitored at all entrances. Customers may be asked to stand in line with social distancing while waiting to enter the market.
  • Market organizers will monitor customers for social distancing and directional traffic flow.
  • Customers will be required to wash/sanitize hands or wear gloves upon entering the market.
  • Face coverings will be required for all customers and vendors; market managers will have face coverings available for a small fee for those who do not have their own.
  • Entrances will be clearly marked with COVID-19 signs.
  • Service dogs will be allowed to enter the market; other pets/animals will not be allowed to accompany customers until further notice.
  • Market vendors will wear face coverings and gloves and have hand sanitizer at their booths.
  • Booths will be spaced a minimum of 10 feet apart, and vendors will maintain appropriate social distancing from customers.
  • Customers will not handle products – vendors will package items for customers when purchased.