Port Royal farmers market stays open amid coronavirus spread — with changes
At what is typically one of the largest gatherings in Beaufort County, the familiar tents of the Port Royal farmers market were spread out conspicuously Saturday morning.
People wandered through Naval Heritage Park and greeted familiar faces from a distance. When customers approached one of the dozen or so vendors, they stopped short of the tables as if repelled like two north poles of a magnet.
The weekly market just outside the gates of Naval Hospital Beaufort is a community event, as much a chance to catch up with neighbors and schedule children’s play dates as a place to find fresh bread, pasta and produce. Amid measures to limit large gatherings and slow the spread of coronavirus, the market continued Saturday morning with some notable changes.
No one cooked on site, signs directed people not to sit on benches and picnic tables and loitering was discouraged.
“We’re basically a grocery store,” market manager Kit Bruce said. “...I told the vendors we are not here to socialize; we are not here to create a festive atmosphere.”
“This is the most respectful I’ve seen any humans about spacing,” said Stephen Myers, of Myers Family Farms on St. Helena Island. “All the stuff here is what’s sold out at Publix.”
Ron Rader, 70, was visiting Port Royal from Charleston to visit his girlfriend and came to the market looking for she crab soup and oysters. He said he had no apprehension about being out in the park.
Rader said he enjoys the beach and decided to visit Port Royal as Charleston-area beaches are restricting access to avoid spreading coronavirus, as is happening on Hilton Head Island and in Myrtle Beach. People should be free to use the beaches as long as they are maintaining a safe distance, he said.
Myers and his wife, Kendra, typically cook during the market. On Saturday they had fresh eggs, pretzels and bagels packaged and ready. Customers could pay with an electronic service like Venmo and prices were in increments of $5 to avoid contact from returning change if paying with cash.
Three Sisters Farm in Bluffton had bagged orders ready to be picked up at the side of their tent, wiped off credit cards with alcohol wipes and had a hand-washing station under their canopy.
Castra Rota Fine Food Limited, which offers breads and cheeses, offered customers product lists from which to order and then sent an electronic invoice. That way customers could pick up a bag with their name on it at the market without touching anyone.
Owner Adriano Rota said other farmers markets had been canceled and the business had to close its store and eatery in Brunson. The business receives some smaller commercial orders but relies heavily on the markets, Rota said.
He said small businesses need government relief that doesn’t have to be repaid.
“Big companies get bailed out, like airlines; the small ones don’t,” Rota said. “A couple thousand (dollars) would help tremendously.”
If COVID-19 eventually keeps people from leaving their homes, Rota said he would consider delivering to their doors.
Rota is one of the the Port Royal farmers market’s longest-tenured vendors. The market will continue as long as it’s safe and people follow social distancing guidelines, Bruce said.
She said market regulars have a close relationship with the farmers they buy from and come back each week with specific needs.
“The community, they’re smart about it,” Myers said. “It’s the most important time to know your farmer.”
