Farmers market to open Saturday

The Tucumcari Farmers Market will open for the season at Wailes Park on Saturday morning despite some restrictions due to the coronavirus.

Market manager Sandra Groves said some of its usual activities will be curtailed when the opening bell is rung at 10 a.m. at the Route 66 park on the city's east side. But she said last week she'd already lined up seven vendors, with more likely to be added.

Produce that would be in season by the opening includes lettuces, beets, onions, zucchini, yellow squash, greens and cucumbers.

Some of the new COVID-19 rules at the market: Vendors must be at least 6 feet apart and wear food-grade gloves and masks. Only one customer at a time is allowed at each vendor's table. The state's public mask mandate remains in effect.

"Customers are not allowed to touch the produce at all," Groves said. "If they do touch it before they buy it, they're going to buy it anyway. If these vendors don't follow those rules, they're going to lose money because they'd have to throw it away.

"Like we tell with the kids: 'Look with your eyes and not with your hands,'" she added. "We don't know where your hands have been."

Groves was asked whether she had any message for people who plan to attend opening day.

"Please be patient with us," she said, laughing. "We don't make these rules, but we have to follow them. I don't want to be a rebel, take a chance, not follow and our market gets closed. I don't want to do that to our vendors."

Groves said shoppers who don't want to leave their cars can call her at (575) 461-8499 so they can pay for and deliver produce at the site.

Groves said she also was lining up entertainers for that morning. She also was consulting with state health officials in Santa Fe to ensure the market remains in compliance.

Though the Saturday market runs until noon, Groves advised customers to show up early. Vendors often sell out of many types of produce well before closing time.

The market also will be open there from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Groves said the market will close for the season Oct. 17 if a hard freeze doesn't occur before that time.

The Tucumcari Farmers Market accepts food stamps, WIC, Double Up Food Bucks, checks and cash for payment.

A record crowd of about 400 attended last year's opening. Because of uncertainty caused by the pandemic, Groves expects between 200 and 300 people Saturday.

Tucumcari Farmers Market was honored in February as the Farmers Market of the Year during the New Mexico Food & Farms Day and School Nutrition Awards in Santa Fe.

Groves said she attributed the award to her efforts in promoting the market and her ingrained commitment to customer service.

"We're friendly to everybody who comes; we talk to people whether they're a vendor or customer," she said. "We just have fun at the market. It's about giving service to people.

"My dad had his own business; I started working in his retail fish market when I was a very little girl. I learned a lot from him. You learn to talk to people when they walk by. It's just giving good service."