View Our Past Open Forums
Watch a replay of our weekly open forums here, and view the documents and links associated with the video.
2021
Open Forum with Kevin King — Wednesday, March 31st, 2021
2020
Twelfth Open Forum — Thursday, september 3rd, 2020
Topic: Planning for Winter Markets
Our panel of market managers: Brenda Ryan of Down to Earth Markets, Laura Crimmins of Kingston Farmers Market and Steve Ridler of Troy Waterfront Farmers Market, led this discussion of ideas for winter market planning. Issues covered with help from our forum participants included: surveying vendors and patrons, space considerations, outdoor vs indoor logistics, impact of online shopping or hybrid model, and keeping with State guideline safety measures.
ELEVENTH OPEN FORUM — MONDAY, AUGUST 24TH, 2020
Topic: Farm Safety Planning
This instructional forum on developing safety plans for farmers/vendors- mandated by recent NYSDAM guidelines- was led by Laura Biasillo, Agricultural Economic Development Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County and member of the Cornell Farm Safety Plan Task Force. No matter the size of your farm, whether you’re a crafter, or vendor part time at the market, having a safety plan in place is a requirement. Please see the materials and video below for helpful information regarding this topic.
View the Presentation: FM COVID-19 Safety Plan [PDF]
NYS COVID-19 Farm Safety Plan [PDF]
OFM - COVID-19 Reopening Safety Plan Template [Word]
Cornell Cooperative Extension: Helping New Yorkers Thrive [Link]
Tenth open forum — Thursday, August 13th, 2020
Topic: Defusing Hostile Situations at Your Market
We have seen, and more often now experienced ourselves, recent incidents of disruptive behavior by customers in retail settings across the country - some resulting in violent threats leading to actual physical harm. Farmers Markets are no exception. We are all feeling the stresses and frustrations as this pandemic continues to disrupt our lives. Even for the best of us, reason can give way to agitation and anger. This forum focuses on what we can do when confronted with combative customers and how we can help defuse contentious situations at our markets. We invited Marla Velky-Reger, LCSW-R Clinical Social Worker to speak about methods and tips we can use to de-escalate these types of encounters, while keeping ourselves safe and sane.
NINTH OPEN FORUM — THURSDAY, JULY 23RD, 2020
Topic: Face Masks Are Mandatory
This is a controversial idea for some and can be difficult for markets to enforce. Katie Valder, Special Counsel for Ethics, Risk and Compliance with the NYS Dept of Agriculture and Markets, joined us to discuss the Executive Order that instituted the face mask mandate and the rights and responsibilities of market managers, farmers and vendors within the markets, and of our market customers. She provided recommendations on how best to enforce mask wearing safety at markets, and offered suggestions on handling mask refusers or those who indicate they have a medical exemption from wearing them.
View the Chat Transcript [.txt]
Eighth open forum — thursday, june 25th, 2020
Topic: NY Forward Phase Openings: Managing Guidelines
Deputy Commissioner for NYS Department of Ag and Markets, Kevin King, gives an update on current guidelines for Farmers Markets and answers questions from participants. Next we hear from Market Director Steve Ridler of Troy Waterfront Farmers Market, discussing Managing Guidelines During the Summer Crowd Season. The Troy market is considered a summertime regional attraction that can draw about 15,000 people. Steve shows us how his market is managing customer flow and safety. His presentation can be accessed below.
View the Chat Transcript [.txt]
View the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market Presentation [PDF]
SEVENTH OPEN FORUM — THURSDAY, JUNE 11th, 2020
Topic: Farmers Market Reopening Safety Plans
We invited Market Directors Jim Farr and Kelly McBride from Rochester Public Market, Jackie Farrell from Westside Market and Amy Willis of Broome County Regional Market to our forum panel. They shared photos, a power point presentation and their safety planning know-how to help answer market managers’ questions about developing market safety plans that farmers markets are now required to have on the premises.
View the Chat Transcript [.txt]
View the Presentation from Rochester Public Market [PDF]
SIXTH OPEN FORUM — MAY 21, 2020
Topic: How Markets are Dealing with Resistance to Guidelines
Some newly opened farmers markets are experiencing pushback from customers and vendors on having to follow new rules of mask wearing, social distancing, product selling and more. This forum’s topic regards how markets are dealing with resistance to the new ways they need to operate. What incidents have come up at your market, how have you handled them and what are some best practices for preemptive measures market managers can take to help generate customer/vendor acceptance and support.
FIFTH WEEKLY OPEN FORUM — APRIL 30, 2020
Since many farmers markets across the state had begun to open their Spring markets under the new safety guidelines, this forum was to facilitate open conversation in which questions, comments, and ideas could have been fielded with the group. We invited a panel of market directors who have given their valuable insights on previous calls to help respond to participants’ questions.
FOURTH WEEKLY OPEN FORUM — APRIL 23, 2020
This week’s discussion centered around using online sales platforms. Many markets have begun to use online sales to allow customers to preorder. There are a number of these platforms available. We heard from Ellen Pope, Director of Otsego 2000, Steve Ridler, Market Manager of Troy Waterfront Farmers Market ,and Jon Zeltsman and Dacotah Rousseau from Down to Earth markets in Ossining, NY about their experiences with the platforms Shopify, Local Food Marketplace, and the WhatsGood app.
THIRD WEEKLY OPEN FORUM — APRIL 16, 2020
The Open Forum’s main topic for discussion was crowd control — How is your market adhering to COVID-19 guidelines for social distancing and safety?
We were joined this week by Suzanne Flaum, Manager of the Kingston Farmers Market, Pascale Le Draoulec, Market Director of the Hastings Farmers Market in Westchester county, and Jessica Douglas of GrowNYC Greenmarkets.
View the Chat Transcript [.txt]
View Kingston Farmers Market’s Powerpoint regarding social distancing and market safety measures! [Powerpoint]
SECOND WEEKLY OPEN FORUM — April 9th, 2020
For this forum, we invited George Billard, Manager of Barryville Farmers’ Market in Sullivan County to speak about The Victory Garden Project developed for his market — a program featuring co-op style bundling of goods and produce directly from market farmers pre-packed according to themes such as The Vegetarian and The Brunch Bag. Orders are then available for a scheduled curbside pickup.
View the chat transcript [.txt]
Visit the Barryville Farmers’ Market webpage!
