News

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and Commissioner Ryan Quarles, provided clear guidance for market managers operating during the COVID-19 epidemic. This includes on-site hand and surface sanitation, proper money transaction procedures, and discontinuing sampling and cooking demonstrations. For staff handling money and vouchers, sanitary gloves and hand sanitizer are required. We implemented a limited entry procedure to ensure we can maintain appropriate social distances.

Vendors and volunteers are asked to wear cloth face coverings as recommended by the CDC.

Our all-volunteer Market Committee made the decision to require customers to wear masks as well. This helps keep vendors, volunteers, and customers safe. We respect that not everyone wants to wear a mask, however, we require it.

The Market Committee created a convenient “no contact” drive-thru experience for those who don’t want to walk the market. This is a great option for those who prefer not to wear a mask.

Our goal is to keep everyone safe, and keep the market open for the farmers who depend on it. We appreciate all who have shopped the market these past two weeks and followed the rules we set to ensure we can operate safely.

Commissioner Quarles offered this advice in his training to market managers, “All of these practices are only useful if they are followed. This may be uncomfortable but please remember, we are trying to keep people safe, and keep the market open.”

Thank you for shopping the market! Our farmers appreciate your business.

• 

• 

• 

Per Executive Order, shopping at the market 1 person per household means just that. 1 person per household at a time. No groups permitted. This season farmers markets are transitioning from community gathering spaces to in and out markets. We welcome you to shop but even 2 person groups are not permitted.

Gov. Andy Beshear issued an executive order on April 8 to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in the state. Beshear said as essential businesses remain open, such as grocery and drug stores, only one person per household should be visiting them at at time. For example, that would mean spouses should not be shopping together. On how this will be enforced, Beshear asked the businesses to use good judgement.

This is not a family event due to COVID-19 and we discourage you from bringing children to the market at this time. There are some exceptions. If an adult needs to go shopping but there is someone dependent on them, such as a young child or someone with disabilities, that can’t rely on someone else, they may accompany.

We hope to return to regular operations soon.

Read a news story about what it means here. https://www.wlky.com/article/executive-order-1-household-member-at-a-time-allowed-inside-ky-businesses/32086452

THANK YOU.

Beginning May 9 the market will offer drive-up pick-up for pre-orders. Visit your favorite farm or vendor’s pre-order site here, place your order by Friday at noon. Write your name and the name of the farm or vendor from which you placed your order on a piece of paper. Arrive at the market on Saturday.

The Drive-Thru Pick-Up Tent is most easily accessed from Browns Lane by turning onto Church Way. Signs at the parking lot will direct you.

Volunteers will direct drivers to pull up to the tent. Hold-Up a piece of paper with your name and the name of the farm or vendor. You will then be directed to a parking space to await your order. A volunteer runner will retrieve your order from the farm and place it in your car. Please open your trunk so the runner may place the order there.

Saturday, May 9 is opening day for our 14th market season. Join us from 9 a.m. to 12 noon for an open air style grocery market experience at 4124 Shelbyville Road. We are working hard to adhere to the guidelines set forth by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and Metro Louisville Depart of Health for all farmers markets. Here is an updated list of current vendors permitted to sell during the COVID19 epidemic. These include those farms and food items deemed essential plus bedding plants and hygiene items. Please note that masks are required and restrooms are unavailable. Only 1 member per household may enter the market. We hope to be able to return to normal operations within this market season.