A Message To Our Customers And Vendors

2/11/21 Rillito park UPDATE • The SUNDAY farmers market will continue to be open at Rillito Park

As you may have heard or read in the news, the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs has decided to expand vaccine delivery to Southern AZ using the current University of Arizona vaccination site, instead of Rillito Park.

Our Pima County contact reached out recently to inform us that the Sunday Farmers Market will continue to be at Rillito Park, winter hours from 9am-1pm. We are in regular contact with Pima County and will keep you posted with any updates, in the event that Rillito Park becomes a vaccination site in the future. Please keep an eye on our website, social media, and this eNewsletter for updates about the Rillito Park Farmers Market.

This week, July 19th, we learned that a vendor tested positive for Covid-19. The last time they were at the markets was the weekend of June 26-28. It is confirmed this vendor followed all safety protocols while at the markets. We are happy to report that the vendor has since recovered from their symptoms. Any vendor that tests positive will not return to any market for a minimum of 14 days and a minimum of 3 consecutive days without symptoms. 

We require all vendors and customers to:

1. Wear a face mask at the market.
2. Maintain physical distancing at all times with a minimum of 6 feet from others.
3. Stay home and do not come to the market if you or someone you have been in contact with is having any symptoms, even if symptoms are mild.

Please read our market guidelines for keeping our markets healthy and safe before attending the market.

We take this matter very seriously and appreciate your support in following the market guidelines. We are all in this together. The choices of individuals affect the health of the community.

Our markets will remain open in order to continue to be a resource for local foods. Please note that we are taking further steps to improve safety at the markets and will continue to enforce our market guidelines.

Before arriving at the market, do a self-wellness check-in. If you have any signs of sickness or answer yes to any of the following questions, do not come to the market:

• Have I been in contact with someone who has been sick?
• Do I feel ill?
• Do I feel fatigued?
• Do I have a fever or chills?
• Do I have a cough or shortness of breath?
• Do I have a headache?
• Do I have a sore throat?
• Do I have a runny nose or nasal congestion?
• Am I experiencing a decreased sense of taste or smell?
• Do I have dizziness?
• Do I have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea?

We are requiring the following of our customers:

• Stay at home if you or someone you have been in contact with is sick. Vendors will not be permitted at the market if they experience any symptoms of illness.
• Face masks are required. If you are unable or unwilling to wear a face mask, please do not come to the market. Check out our website for a list of our vendors who offer pickups and deliveries here.
• Please maintain physical distancing at all times with a minimum of 6 feet from others.
• Please limit your time at the market and shop efficiently. We highly recommend only sending 1 person per household to get your weekly groceries.
• Limit your interactions with vendors, customers, and market staff to under 5 minutes.
• Please wash or sanitize your hands frequently.
• Surfaces will continue to be cleaned on a frequent basis.
• Do not touch products. Let vendors serve you.

Dear Heirloom FM customers and vendors,

We have been closely monitoring the status of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and our top priority is the safety and well being of our customers, vendors, and staff. As open-air grocery stores, the farmers markets will be open this weekend in order to continue to provide vital access to nutritious local food in our community.

We must all do our part for the health of our community by practicing social distancing. This translates to the following two important considerations: 1) please only come to the market if it is essential for you to buy food at the market, and 2) please maintain 6 feet distance with others at all times. If you or anyone in your household is sick, please stay home. If you are at higher risk based on age and/or chronic health conditions of any kind, please stay home. Everyone at the market is advised to avoid handshakes, hugs, etc. Examples of excellent greetings include a hand wave or a bow. Customers, please limit the time you spend at the market, with a “stock up and head home” approach.

Detailed below are the modifications we are making to further heighten safety at the markets. Some of the changes that you will notice are that only vendors who sell food will be at the markets. Also, all food sold at the market will be prepackaged by the vendors to reduce contact of the items as much as possible. No sampling or on-site cooking will be allowed at the market. There will be no token sales so please come prepared with cash or credit card. SNAP/EBT and Double Up Food Bucks will be available at all markets.

Please note: the Wednesday Green Valley Village Farmers & Artisans Market is currently closed until further notice.

Sincerely,

Nick Szumowski

Director of Operations
Heirloom Farmers Market

Dear HeirloomFM customers and vendors,

Heirloom Farmers Markets is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and we are following the guidance of the Pima County Health Department and Arizona Department of Health Services.

The safety and well-being of our customers, vendors, and staff is our top priority. At this time, all Heirloom Farmers Markets will proceed as scheduled. We will be making a few modifications at the market, following the lead of other farmers markets around the country. Starting this weekend we will not have customer cafe areas and we encourage customers to view the farmers markets as an open-air grocery store experience. We will also be limiting food sampling at the markets. We encourage you to stay tuned for further updates from HeirloomFM.

Our market managers and staff will be adopting the following precautions to ensure the safety of our customers:

• All staff and vendors must stay home if they are sick.

• All staff processing cash/tokens/credit/debit/SNAP transactions must wear protective gloves.

• Provide notices to vendors about proper food handling.

• We will have hand sanitizers available at our market info booths.

In the interest of the continued health of our community, we strongly advise customers, vendors, and staff to follow these best practices according to public health guidelines:

• Do not attend the markets if you or someone in your household is sick. 

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially: after going to the bathroom; before eating; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; before/during/after preparing food; after touching an animal or animal waste; after touching garbage.

• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. This includes thoroughly washing produce before consumption and regularly washing your reusable produce bags.

Thank you for your continued support of the farmers markets, local small businesses, and our vibrant food system.

Sincerely,

Nick Szumowski

Director of Operations
Heirloom Farmers Markets