The New Normal Troy Farmers Market scales down grows slowly while following guidelines (WRGB)

The following story was first broadcast by WRGB CBS 6 News on June 11, 2020.

by Leanne DeRosa Thursday, June 11th 2020

TROY NY (WRGB) - Farmers markets have been essential since the start of the pandemic, but the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market had to find a new way to operate.

“We started off being in the Atrium in March when we had to stop,” Market manager Steve Ridler said. “And working with the County and the City we were closed down for a while until we figured out what rules we would have to follow.”

Ridler soon started online ordering for vendors.

The market usual moves outside to Monument Square in May. But they got out even earlier, in April, and set up the market in the Russell Sage parking lot on the corner of 1st & Division Streets. And starting Saturday June 13, the market will move to Riverfront Park.

“We needed to spread our vendors out, we needed to create a flow of traffic that allowed people to move freely through the market and not bump into each other.” Ridler said.

The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market is considered a summertime regional attraction. It draws people from downstate, Vermont, Massachusetts, and more. “In the summer we get around 15,000 people and you have 100 vendors, so we knew when we were going to be coming out we would have to do something different.”

Ridler limited the vendors to about 30 in the parking lot, and added more each week. You’ll still find your essentials like produce, dairy, meat, and bread and some of your favorite locally-made products. But there won’t be a wide variety of each type of vendor.

Ridler asked customers to sign up for a time slot online ahead of time and created a line for walk-ins.

“As the weeks have gone on we've relaxed the sign up, it's good for us to know who's coming. If someone wants to get in at a certain time, they can sign up online otherwise people walk up and get in within 5 minutes.” Ridler said.

Hand sanitizer and wash stations are scattered throughout the market. Everyone is required to wear masks. And dogs are not allowed in.

Chalk-drawn arrows on the ground create a one-way system down the aisles. They also used chalk to help people social distance. “We put circles that people can stand in, and we drew a 6-foot perimeter in front of the booth, which people wait outside and they get called in by the vendor.”

The vibe of the market is different, it’s less like a festival, there is no live music or people sitting and eating with friends. But Ridler says people still enjoy it.

“Everyone has been very happy and complimentary,” Ridler said, “they're very happy to support local agriculture and local businesses so they're all very pleased and we've had some very positive reviews.”

He says he plans to keep expanding the market as guidelines change.

Starting Saturday June 13th Ridler says the market will grow and move from the parking lot to Riverfront Park. It’s open from 8:30am-2:00pm on Saturday. The first hour is for seniors and first responders. The new protocols will remain in place.