Farmers’ market opens with restrictions

Besides selling her fresh grown produce and microgreens to customers of the Newton Farmers’ Market, newcomer Lois Steinberger is offering something that would have seemed a bit of out of the ordinary last year — or the years before that — but seems all the more appropriate now: homemade face masks.

"I don't know how many people will be doing that, but I do have several made up," Steinberger said, noting she crafted masks into three different sizes.

As the operator of Steinberger’s Garden Oasis, a new vendor in the Newton-based farmers’ market, she will be required to wear one of those masks from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, while working her stand near North Second Avenue, just north of the Newton town square.

This year’s farmers’ market will no doubt feel different to regular customers. Newton Main Street, which organizes the yearly event, has implemented restrictions and other recommendations set by the state and Gov. Kim Reynolds. All vendor stations will be operating six feet apart and using masks, for instance.

Erin Yeager, executive director of Newton Main Street, said customers are encouraged to maintain social distancing. They are also asked to proceed through the market in a one-way direction, marked by signs, starting from the alley of Uncle Nancy’s Coffeehouse & Eatery, exiting toward The Farmer’s Wife.

“Everything is tentative to change,” Yeager said. “We’re following the guidelines given to us from the governor. All farmers markets across the state of Iowa are doing this, too … We’re just kind of going with it. It’s a new thing for all of us. It’s going to look a little different this year, so I’m asking everybody to bear with us.”

No live events — such as tastings, music performances, face painting and kids activities are permitted at Iowa farmers’ markets at this time. The rules submitted by Newton Main Street said these restrictions are subject to change as the season progresses and more limitations are lifted.

As of Tuesday, the state allows the following items to be sold at farmers’ markets: dairy/dairy products, poultry/poultry products, other livestock products, baked goods, fruits, vegetables, flowers, seeds, grasses, trees, fish and honey/honey products. Don’t expect to find lawn ornaments or kitchen accessories for sale.

Newton Main Street said other products like lotions, soaps, sanitizers made with goat or soy milk, honeybee wax products, Iowa wines and beers, vendor-produced pet food products approved by the USDA, coffee beans, ground coffee and homemade masks are also allowed to be sold at the local farmers’ market.

More is expected of customers this year in order to run a healthy and safe farmers’ market. Organizers ask those who have had fever in the past three days, have been ill, are showing signs of respiratory illness or been around an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 to stay home.

Customers are to use hand sanitizer upon entering the market. Yeager said sanitizing stations will be setup downtown to accommodate guests. Only one shopper per household may attend the market. Guests are also encouraged to wear masks and are prohibiting from bringing reusable bags and pets.

Conversations are to be kept at a minimum, too. Per the state’s guidelines, customers and vendors are to limit product handling. Newton Main Street said people will have to point to the products they would like to buy. Nancy Woody of Nancy’s Canned Creations called this state guideline a “ridiculous stipulation.”

Although Woody sells mostly canned jams, jellies and butters, she argued produce vendors will have a more difficult job with the “point to pick” rule. Handling fruits and vegetables before a purchase will be challenging for customers, she said. Samples, too, are prohibited.

“That tends to be a big draw,” Woody said. “That’s what they look forward to whether they buy anything or not … But I can’t do that this year. So I’ve got six case of samples at home that I’m not going to be able put out at all. I’m willing to comply with that as long as I can do the farmers’ market.”

Regardless, both Woody and Steinberger are looking forward to the farmers’ market. The latter vendor is excited to meet with people — even if it is very briefly — and provide them with “a clean source of food.” Steinberger anticipates it will be a different experience for regular customers and vendors, if they decide to go.

“People in town probably need something to go to and get around to.” she said. “I think you will have those who will not go, you’ll have those who will go and you’ll have those in the middle who aren’t quite sure what they want to do. Because it can be scary to some.”

Newton Farmers’ Market will be open every Tuesday from June 2 to Sept. 29 at its temporary location north of the square.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com