Fresh produce, increased safety available at local farm stands

“Thank you for wearing a mask.”

That’s how Nicole Garcia-Swanson greeted La Connerite Sandi Davidson when she purchased berries at the Swanson Family Farm on Monday.

Affirming positive behavior is just one new habit adopted by La Conner-area farm stands as they conform to Department of Health rules.

Add in masks, gloves, sanitizing, social distancing and plastic barriers, and family-owned stands look a lot different this year.

Since Schuh Farms opened in mid-March, “our monthly safety training has been all about the virus and how to keep yourself safe at home and at the farm,” said Jen Schuh.

Schuh’s lets six customers at a time into its barn store. On busy weekends, staff members guide shoppers and remind them to stay six feet apart.

“Customers have been really good about keeping distance and have been very gracious with one another,” said Jen.

She expects the same when the U-pick field opens this week. The field is large, and families can be together, “but we will monitor people.”

Like all farm stands, Schuh Farms staff wear masks and gloves and keeps counters washed down. Instead of passing pens back and forth to customers, staff explain the transaction total and put an “X” in lieu of the signature on the credit card receipt. That keeps people safe – and the checkout line moving.

Customers no longer can enter the Swanson’s farm stand. They examine produce on a display table, and Garcia-Swanson fills orders with items on shelves behind her.

“If you touch it, it goes home with you” is her rule. “After one older gentleman touched a couple of berries, I gave them to him in addition to the ones he bought,” she said. “He thought I was being generous. In a lighthearted friendly way, I educated him.”

You can still serve yourself at Hedlin’s farm stand, but you have to follow directions. Customers enter through the double doors facing Chilberg Road, exit through a southwest door, and settle up at the outdoor cash register, where sales staff like WSU student Megan Green sit behind a plastic shield.

A plastic shield also protects the baristas at the Schuh espresso stand. Earlier this spring, the stand was the pickup spot for customers with curbside orders of Schuh’s produce.

Hedlin’s is still providing curbside service. “You can order on our website, schedule a pickup, and we’ll have your order ready to go when you get here,” said Kai Ottesen. “You don’t have to mingle with staff and the public.”

For all three families, on-farm sales and in-town stands like the Schuh stand at Skagit Farmer’s Supply are critical this year.

The Seattle farmer’s markets where Schuh Farms sells are opening slowly, and at least one has been cancelled for the summer. Last Saturday’s Everett Farmer’s Market “felt like 20 years ago, with a third of the vendors and even fewer shoppers,” said Dean Swanson. “It takes a lot of time and expense to go to a market so if it doesn’t financially pencil out … .”

Otteson finished Swanson’s sentence: “The restrictions on entry into farmer’s markets feel like a catch-22. If you have the traffic to make it pencil out it doesn’t feel safe for customers or employees, and if you put in the restrictions you need to keep people safe, it’s hard to be profitable.”

The Hedlins are still debating whether and how to participate in farmer’s markets – and focusing their efforts on the farm stand.

“Berries just don’t wait,” said Otteson. “We’re trying to get creative in terms of moving them. Hopefully with more people staying home, we’ll see more interesting in canning and processing.”

“Mother Nature has been nice this year,” said Schuh. “The strawberries are great!”