‘People deserve to have fresh food’: Hilton Head farmers market open during coronavirus
At a time Beaufort County residents are staying home and keeping their distance from others, organizers of a local farmers market say the business remains open to offer fresh produce when people need it most.
The Hilton Head Farmers Market, held on Tuesday mornings from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Honey Horn, will continue to operate, Town Manager Steve Riley announced Friday afternoon.
Marissa Paykos, the market’s coordinator, said she expects 19 vendors at the April 7 market, and added that she considers the market one of the safest places to get fresh food during the pandemic.
“As farmers, we have really strong ties to the community as far as wanting people to have access to fresh food and foods that are good for them,” she said. The farmers market “offers an open air place for people to get food and shop without going to the grocery store.”
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has discouraged people from gathering in groups, hoping to reduce chances for infection from being in public spaces. Paykos said the statewide recommendations will surely change how people use the farmers market.
“We’ll do whatever we can do to make people feel safer,” she said, adding that Tuesday’s market will have flags to help people queue while social distancing. “It’s not a place to gather. People should come, shop for their food and go.”
Tables typically set up at the market for people to enjoy their food or drinks will not be there Tuesday. Paykos, who is also a vendor, said she plans to wear a mask and bring gloves for vendors to use.
But the focus on fresh food grown close to home is what motivated the vendors to continue organizing the market during uncertain times.
“Just like a grocery store is essential, people deserve to have fresh food and deserve to know where it came from,” she said. “My hands are pretty much the only ones that have touched our products.”
Paykos is the owner of Whippoorwill Farms, a Jasper County farm that produces pork, rabbit, chicken, eggs, and seasonal vegetables, according to its website.
Hilton Head appears to be alone in keeping the market open, although other markets are getting creative. The Bluffton farmers market closed as of April 2, and the Port Royal farmers market closed after Naval Heritage Park, where the market typically takes place, was closed.
Both markets are offering pre-order and pickup service from regular vendors, according to market Facebook pages.
How to clean your food
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in March it was not aware of any reports of illness transmitted by any food or food packaging, but whether you get your food from local vendors, farmers markets, grocery stores or your own garden, it’s important to keep it clean.
Here is LA Times cooking editor Genevieve Ko’s guide to cleaning fruits and vegetables at home:
Lettuces and other leafy greens: Fill a large bowl with water and immerse the greens in it. Swish the greens around to loosen any grit, let stand for a minute so the grit can drop to the bottom of the bowl, then lift the greens out into a colander. Run the greens in the colander under cold water very thoroughly, using a sprayer if you have one.
Root vegetables: Scrub them under running water with your fingers or a vegetable brush to remove any dirt.
Mushrooms: Some chefs suggest never allowing mushrooms to get wet because they absorb water like a sponge, which makes them steam instead of sear in a hot pan. I still wash them, quickly swishing them in a colander under the hardest blast of water I can get from my sprayer.
If any clumps of dirt remain, I pluck them off while rinsing. Immediately after rinsing, spread in a single layer on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to dry.
Sturdy vegetables and fruits: For items such as green beans, asparagus, cucumbers and grapes, rinse well under a high-pressure stream of water while rubbing with your hands. Let dry in a clean colander if needed.
Delicate vegetables and fruits: For soft stuff such as tomatoes, ripe stone fruit and berries, rinse under a steady but low-pressure stream of water, turning the items gently with your hands to ensure all sides are rinsed but not bruised. Spread on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to dry so they don’t get crushed.
Source: How to wash fruits and vegetables during the coronavirus crisis
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 3:48 PM.
