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Though produce and food are considered essential, the Long Beach Health Department has not allowed regular craftsmen and entertainers to attend the farmers market since the shutdown, according to Ostendorf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe health department came in last week to inspect and make sure we were following their guidelines, and it was all positive,\u201d Ostendorf said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have to walk around and make sure that people are staying six feet apart. We put chalk lines down, and most people right now do follow the rules,\u201d Ostendorf said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Claro Rufo, who works as a health inspector for the temporary food facilities of the Long Beach Health Department, regularly inspects the market according to Ostendorf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rufo spoke about new protocols that the farmers market must follow along with some concerns he had during a phone interview on March 24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn my recent inspection on Saturday and Sunday, I made some observations, and the farmers market is essential,\u201d Rufo said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSpace is concerning. What we are recommending for the organizers is to space booths apart and space items to increase social distancing and while walking the market, make sure that it is ensuring a minimum of 6 feet for non-farmer members,\u201d said Rufo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, the public health inspector recommended the market limit the number of customers allowed to reduce overcrowding, also increase the disinfection of surfaces and payment devices, and remove public service items to deter the spread of the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have to remind employees to increase the frequency of soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and produce gloves and bags while selecting produce,\u201d said Rufo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Older regulations for the farmers market, such as removing vendors not part of the certified farmers market according to the CAL Code, still apply according to both Rufo and Ostendorf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is a California certified farmers market, all farmers have to have a certification from the state of California and the county of where they grow, and have a list of what they grow. It enables them to come here and sell. It provides a sense of security,\u201d said Ostendorf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rose Rennie, who owns a honey and ginger stand at the farmers market, talked about her sales and the benefits of keeping the market open. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are hardly able to keep up bottling our honey. Honey is full of anti-bacterial properties and people know that. During the winter our sales usually go up 30 percent, but people here have been buying like crazy,\u201d Rennie said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are the source, and we\u2019re giving people food directly from farmers to customers, in the open air, not crammed with everyone breathing on everyone,\u201d said Rennie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tino Fatteh, who operates Sunny Cal Farms at the Local Harvest market along with Bryson Raynsford, spoke about operating the farm during the shutdown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re stoked to be here providing people food for the week people panicked. Now, people are happy out here shopping, they\u2019re mindful. Long Beach is one of the only spots allowing hot food,\u201d said Fatteh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to giving people a sense of normalcy, the market is an essential, safer way to get the highest quality produce now according to Fatteh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat we sell has to be grown in California, which isn\u2019t an issue because 80 percent of agriculture is here. We grow in the San Joaquin Valley, so you\u2019re gonna get the freshest stuff here,\u201d said Fatteh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere’s no shortage of food with local farms because we grow everything, and it\u2019s direct to consumers,\u201d said Raynsford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe supply line is the issue, no one anticipated hysteria, and creating panic is the worst part,\u201d said Fatteh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sunny Cal Farms is so essential to its regular customers, and has been overflowing with new customers looking to shop outdoors, that they have now implemented a delivery line, said Fatteh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, Fatteh also expressed concerns over a possible stimulus package for small businesses, and whether or not small farm owners will be included in that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWill farmers get included in stimulus packages, or will small businesses be overlooked? If you really want to think about it, we\u2019re putting our lives and health on line to get people essential food. We\u2019re just lucky we\u2019re younger,\u201d Fatteh said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though Fatteh, Ostendorf, and other farmers operating the market hope it will remain open, some parts of the market might not be so lucky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rufo clarified that, though the market will remain open, a final say still has to be given by Dr. Anissa Davis, Long Beach Health Department health officer, to determine whether the hot food stands beloved in the market will be able to stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For now, the Local Harvest Farmers Market is still operating both at Bixby Park, and at Marine Stadium on Tuesdays and Saturdays at various times of the day, and will continue to do so until told otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ostendorf said, \u201cWe’ll go back to the way we were. For now, following the guidelines, the people are happy, we\u2019re happy, and just working to bring products to the market.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The stalls at the local harvest farmers market in Long Beach continue to be filled with produce, and crowds continue to gather amidst the COVID-19 shutdown in Long Beach. 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