Farmers Market Returns, Tailored To Pandemic

Barbara Redding came in search of some fresh zucchini and eggplant and left with a handful of locally grown veggies.

She bought the local produce at the soft launch of the Hamden Social-Distance Mini Farmers Market Thursday evening.

Tents and tables in front of the Miller Library greeted Redding and other customers with spreads of lettuce, tomatoes, kale, parsley, spinach, basil, carrots, beets, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, strawberries and blueberries.

The annual farmers market debuted in stripped-down, safety-conscious form in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Redding picked her veggies from Amelia Iuliano, who owns Amelia’s Florist and Farm Market LLC. Iuliano grows her produce in Hamden and East Haven and sells at farmers markets across the state.

Iuliano had to close down her storefront on June 25 after the East Shore District Health Department and a town zoning official cited her for operating a food store in her driveway, garage, and yard without a license.

Since the pandemic she said she has been able to sell only at a farmers market in Stanford and now at Hamden’s on Thursday. ​“It’s been tough but we’re surviving,” she said.

Iuliano, who grew up in North Branford, has been in business since 2002. She has been farming her entire life.

This was the start of Alisha Martindale’s second year helping organize the market. As arts and marketing manager for the Hamden Department of Arts and Culture, Martindale worked with members of the Town Center Park Commission to put it together.

“With all of our events being canceled. we wanted to do at least something, even if it’s small,” she said.

As soon as Gov. Ned Lamont announced farmers markets were allowed to reopen, Hamden worked to find a safe way to open theirs.

The market is typically held in front of the red barn at Town Center Park. Organizers knew they would have to make some changes in order to comply with Covid-19 social distancing and other regulations.

Martindale said they originally looked into doing a drive-through farmers market, but found that vendors thought it would be too difficult. They then proposed holding a ​“mini market” in front of the Miller Library with easier access to running water, bathrooms, and air conditioning.

Hamden Public Library Director Melissa Canham-Clyne and Tracy Nista set up a spot at one of the farmers market tables to talk with residents about programs the library offers. ​“I love chatting with the people that come up to our table and telling them about the programs we have and the things you can do with a library card which usually amazes people,” Nista said.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz stopped by the market. She came over to the library’s table to discuss the work the staff has been doing through the pandemic.

Canham-Clyne said the library created a digital branch including a coding program and monthly open mic on Zoom with participants from Hamden, Colorado and Hungary joining in.

“A farmers market is all about community. We’re an anchor of community, so that’s why we’re here today. We want to plant the seeds of what we do well which is bringing people together and bringing ideas together,” Canham-Clyne said.

According to Covid-19 regulations, all vendors and customers are required to socially distance with masks. Organizers directed customers to flow in a one ‑way direction with arrows. Martindale and the other organizers added an extra sanitizing station for customers on the way out.

Every year, the Hamden Arts Commission sponsors local musicians for live performances at the farmers market. This too had to be altered due to Covid. Rather than canceling the performances, Martindale said, they have all been moved to Hamden restaurants with outdoor seating.

Lifelong Hamden resident and Vietnam War vet Steven Graham has helped volunteer at the farmers market for 15 years. He helps out at concerts and other events setting up tents and cleaning up. Graham, who is an auxiliary member of the Hamden Arts Commission, said he has learned how to use Zoom to attend virtual meetings during the pandemic.

He said he loves supporting local farmers through the market, but especially loves the concerts. ​“Having no concerts this year is tough!”

State regulations also call for no more than 100 people gathered at a farmers market. To ensure organizers and volunteers wouldn’t have to manage large crowds on the first day, Martindale said, she only lightly promoted the market on social media. She said she hoped running the first day as a soft launch would allow them to safely and effectively expand the market through July.

“Everybody wants to be out doing stuff right now, but also we still have a responsibility to keep people safe,” she said.

The market will be open every Thursday from 4 – 7:30 p.m. this month (except if it rains).