Isle of Wight County still plans to host a farmers market on Saturday, May 2, but the event will be a little different given the current COVID-19 restrictions.

According to Assistant County Administrator Don Robertson, staff members are still working out the details on an alternate location to better facilitate social distancing. Farmers markets have traditionally been held in the parking lot behind the Bank of Southside Virginia on Main Street in downtown Smithfield.

“We will utilize the farmers market website and Facebook page to facilitate orders through an online ordering system,” Robertson said. “A menu of currently available items will be created and a phone number provided for ordering as well.”

If customers are unable to order ahead, an on-site process for taking orders will be established that does not involve customers browsing from vendor to vendor, Robertson added. Curbside pickup will be provided, allowing customers to stay in their vehicles. 

All vendors and farmers market personnel will also be required to comply with social distancing guidelines, with vendors promoting no-touch or low-touch purchasing options such as pre-boxing and pre-bagging food items.

While COVID-19 is not thought to be spread by food, continued precautions, such as wearing masks and gloves, as well as frequent sanitizing, will be taken to prevent person-to-person spread of the virus, Robertson said.