Amid so many shutdowns, the local farmers’ markets remain open, selling fresh produce.

By Mary O’KEEFE

The Montrose Harvest Market continues to be open on Sundays as shoppers keep in mind that social distancing is the new normal.

The “Safer at Home” orders from Los Angeles County, adapted from the state orders, allow open air markets that sell whole uncut produce and packaged food, like farmers’ markets, to continue to be open but social distancing must be practiced.

Social distancing must be enforced at any business that is deemed “essential” as per the Safer at Home order. Social distancing, which is an effort to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, dictates that people must be separated from each other by at least six feet when in a public space.

“Persons who are family members or household contacts may stand or move together, but must be separated from others by a distance of at least six feet,” according to the order.

At Sunday’s Harvest Market organizers measured and marked six-foot intervals at several of the booths to give shoppers a physical marker of where they could stand.

Flea markets and swap meets are considered non-essential businesses by the order so the portion of the Harvest Market that normally offers clothing and non-food items for sale, and the children’s play area, are not allowed to be open.

This week, the Harvest Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon. Last Saturday operating hours were from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.; however, organizers have adjusted those times.

The La Cañada Flintridge Farmers Market is open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“The [Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. personnel] will have a unit there to ensure people are following the social distancing of six feet requirement,” stated Pat Anderson, president and CEO of the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce.

Harvest Market is located in the 2300 block of Honolulu Avenue. The La Cañada Flintridge Farmers Market is located at 1300 Foothill Boulevard.