Swarthmore Farmers Market Emerging From Its Cocoon
A scene from the Swarthmore Farmers Market during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Roger Godfrey, owner of Rafiki. Photo: Joshua Cohen
The pandemic brought significant changes to our country. One area feeling that impact has been the Swarthmore Farmers Market. What had previously been the market’s norm changed dramatically over the past 18 months. And now, it is time to get back to “normal.”
Last year, in early 2020, planning for the upcoming market season was chaotic. The market committee was constantly getting new information about how the virus was transmitted and what we should or shouldn’t be doing. We would make plans, only to have to change them, and then change them again. It was a challenge, to say the least.
Our traditional format, which had included a wide range of vendors, live music, and kids’ activities, had to be abandoned, and market day became purely a food access event. No live music, no kids’ activities, masks required, and a single point of entrance and exit. We went down from an average of 18 vendors to 11 — and those were primarily “pre-order preferred” vendors of food staples like bread and produce. Our goals were to support producers while continuing to enable our patrons to obtain fresh food for their families.
Two Locals Brewing Co-owner Richard Koilor. Photo: Joshua Cohen
In planning for the 2021 season, as vaccines have become available and more has been learned about best safety practices with regard to the virus, we have consulted the CDC guidelines, Pennsylvania state mandates, Chester and Delaware County Health Department advisories, the Borough’s medical consultant, and our local police and fire departments. We are very pleased to now be beginning the market’s transition out of our “Covid chrysalis”!!
We have already initiated some changes. While last year, the market’s hours were 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., this year, beginning on opening day, we extended them to 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. And we adopted a “mask optional” policy for those who are fully vaccinated, asking only those who are not fully vaccinated to wear a mask. (We have relied on the honor system regarding compliance.)
Below is a timeline of the upcoming changes you will see as we re-emerge:
June 26
Conrad Bender and Bethany Formica of Sawdust Siren. Photo: Joshua Cohen
We will return to open access, removing the yellow tape barriers around the market.
Vendors will once again be able to offer samples of their goods.
Live music will return, with two performances—one from 9 to 10:30, and another from 10:30 to noon.
One-way foot traffic will no longer be necessary.
A market tent will be on site again.
July 17
Kids’ activities will return.
August 7
Community tables will reappear.
September 4
We will once again be able to accept SNAP and One Card.
Food trucks will return.
On-premise food consumption will again be allowed.
The number of vendors will start to steadily increase.
The market committee and our Saturday morning volunteers have been working diligently to keep the market open and in as safe a format as possible. And now, the time has finally arrived for it to once again become the Saturday morning food, art, and community gathering destination for people from Swarthmore and surrounding communities.
If you have any questions about the market, please contact me at francher_pat@yahoo.com.
