Clovis’ Friday Farmers Market set to return for summer, but leave your families at home

Clovis’ Old Town Farmer’s Market will open as scheduled on Friday – with some restrictions.

The city’s year-round Saturday Farmer’s market closed briefly in March due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. It reopened in April with fewer vendors and safety protocols for vendors and guests.

Similarly, the Friday night market, which has run for more than 30 years, will be following rules set in place by the Centers for Disease Control, California Public Health, California Department of Food and Agriculture and Fresno County Public Health department. The market will be farmers only, in maintaining its designation as an essential business. So, no live bands or other entertainment.

Those concerned about exposure to the COVID-19 virus, and anyone who is sick or at high-risk for infection, are urged to stay home.

According to Business Organization of Old Town, new safety protocols include: checking with vendors each week to remind them if they are sick they should not attend; disinfecting frequently touched surfaces at each booth and keeping booths at least six feet apart to allow customers to practice social distancing.

Vendors will be required to wear gloves and a mask and limit themselves to one person per booth, if possible. The growers are required to use their own plastic bags. Customers are not allowed to touch the produce or use their own bags.

All sampling is suspended.

For customers, there will be signage with the new rules posted at the entrance to the market, a hand wash unit on the street and chalk lines for social distancing.

Those attending the market are urged to wear a mask and gloves and leave families at home.

Other markets

Clovis’ Saturday Morning Farmers Market is open 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Old Town on Pollasky Avenue between 5th and Bullard.

The River Park Farmer’s Market is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays.

The Vineyard Farmers Market, at Blackstone and Shaw avenues, is open from 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays.

This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 10:52 AM.