Bellingham Farmers Market to reopen April 11 with steps to avoid spread of coronavirus
The Bellingham Farmers Market is planning to reopen 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, under a modified plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the new coronavirus.
Deemed an essential business with other grocery stores, the market will operate with that focus in mind, according to a news release.
Here are some details on the changes at the market:
▪ The market will only offer farm produce and other grocery staples such as bread, meat and cheese.
▪ Fewer vendors will be at the market and they will be adequately spaced to allow for social distancing among vendors and shoppers. Social distancing standards will be strictly enforced. Only a limited number of shoppers will be allowed to enter at a time.
▪ Increased measures for health and safety will include extra hand-washing stations. Shoppers will not be allowed to touch produce or products – vendors must bag items at point of sale.
▪ Entertainment, music and eating areas have been suspended until further notice.
▪ There will be limited entry and exit points. The shopper entrance will be located at the southwest corner of the Depot Market Square — by the goat statue.
Along with social distancing practices, the farmers market has a few tips while there, including:
▪ Make a shopping list and complete shopping as quickly as possible.
▪ Limit interactions with other customers and vendors.
▪ Only have one person per household at the market to make social distancing easier for others.
▪ Be prepared with small bills to offer exact change to vendors when possible. Some vendors may also accept alternative hands-free payments like Venmo or Apple Pay.
For more information about the Bellingham Farmers Market, visit the website or Facebook page. The Saturday farmers market is located at Depot Market Square, 1100 Railroad Ave.
Cannabis store reopens
The third 2020 Cannabis Solutions store in Bellingham reopened Friday, April 3, after implementing protocols to improve the safety for customers and workers.
The store at 2018 Iron St. in downtown Bellingham opened for the first time since closing March 18 due to coronavirus concerns, according to a company news release. The stores at 4770 Pacific Highway and 5655 Guide Meridian reopened March 23.
All three 2020 Cannabis Solutions stores are now open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily for guests who placed orders by phone or through the website at 2020menu.com.
The reopened stores are offering curbside service (as long as all occupants of the car are over 21) to limit the number of guests in the store.
Lummi store goes online
In a move to accommodate customers’ access to supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lummi Bay Market, also known as the Cove, is offering online shopping.
Customers will be able to order goods online at www.lcc-lummi.com for in-store pickup.
“We know our members and other residents rely on the Cove for everyday essentials,” said Lawrence Solomon, chairman of the Lummi Nation, in a news release. “Our priority is to maximize the safety of our employees and our customers as we provide a much-needed service to our community.”
In addition to online shopping, the Lummi Bay Market is limiting contact with others. Only a few shoppers are allowed to enter the store at a time and will not have access to the sales floor. Customers place an order for goods at the cash register to be filled by the retail team.
This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 4:33 PM.
