Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas

Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas Continue to Provide Safe Access to Healthy Food Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas are all open and going strong while adhering to all state and local health and safety guidelines.

Marina, CA, July 10, 2020 — Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’’ Markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas are all open and going strong while adhering to all state and local health and safety guidelines.

Everyone’s Harvest Markets are open Sundays in Marina, Mondays in Pacific Grove, Tuesdays in Alisal, Wednesdays at Natividad Medical Center and Fridays at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System (SVMHS), all in Salinas, with fruits and vegetables, local honey, fresh eggs, and more.

Alisal’s market, which is located at Women, Infants And Children (WIC) offices at 632 East Alisal St., is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, and features three farmers, WIC program for healthy families, and all markets now match P-EBT (special Pandemic EBT funds distributed recently) for Market Match, to increase EBT customers’ spending power.

Natividad’s market, open Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Natividad Medical Center at 1441 Constitution Blvd., has added Perfect Crumb Bakery, Frutas Frescas Barajas, and Locally Roasted Coffee back this week, joining Stackhouse Orchards of San Joaquin Valley, offering dried tree fruits and almonds; Gallardo’s Organic Farm in Salinas, offering vegetable row crops and strawberries; and Golden Flowers, offering fresh-cut flowers.

Both markets are smaller, modified markets with social distancing plans in place. All markets have strict social distancing and thorough sanitation plans in place.

SVMHS, open on Fridays from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., at 450 East Romie Lane, brought back Mai Thai cuisine, Chava's Roasted Corn and Baked Potatoes, and this week, Maido Sushi and Teriyaki.

The Marina Certified Farmers’ Market is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday at 215 Reservation Road, in Marina. The Pacific Grove Certified Farmers’ Market is held from 3 to 7 p.m. every Monday at the corner of Central and Grand avenues, in Pacific Grove.

Fruits and vegetables currently in season include peaches and nectarines, a few tomato varieties, summer squash, fresh strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and avocados.

All markets are continually adding more vendors. The Pacific Grove market now includes:

>Chef Ron Mendoza’s Seaside-based Ad Astra Bread Co. — Offers fresh-baked sourdough, rustic breads, baguettes, flatbreads, pretzels, focaccia, coffee cake, and cinnamon rolls. >Garlicville's Best Salsa — Offers fresh salsa made with Gilroy garlic in mild, medium, and hot. >Also, Kirk Williams Avocados are back.

Marina market now includes: >Honey from MockaBees Aromas Apiary in Aromas.

Both PG and Marina markets now include: >Susan Carter’s The Perfect Crumb Bakery in Monterey — Offers a variety of breakfast and dessert pastries, from scones and croissants to cookies, brownies, pies and cupcakes. >San Leandro-based Hummus Heaven — Brothers Mourad and Tarek Cherif source local and seasonal ingredients from farmers markets to offer 17 flavors of hummus and many accompanying food items, including tapenades, grape leaves, pita chips, and more. Traditional techniques and small-batch productions are employed at their kitchen to give their products a North-African and Mediterranean flavor.

New vendors at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System: >Ledesma Family Farms organics from Holllister, Gustine and Watsonville.

At all markets: > Stackhouse Orchards in the San Joaquin Valley is back with peaches, nectarines, and almonds. >Taco trucks.

Coordinating markets and the Fresh Rx program is new market program manager, Karen Gomez.

Gomez graduated last year from CSU-Monterey Bay with a degree in Collaborative Health & Human Services and an interdisciplinary concentration of Public Administration/Nonprofit Management and Community Health. She is now pursuing her master’s degree in Public Administration at San Jose State University.

Gomez has been involved with various nonprofits for the past few years, and has enjoyed being able to apply the skills and knowledge she learned in school to real world challenges. She hopes to continuously

help her community and make a difference. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking and taking spontaneous trips.

And for convenience, safety and avoiding lines, consumers can pre-order their goods from markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas by scanning a QR code with their smart phones located on the website at everyonesharvest.org. More info is also available at the green Everyone's Harvest info booth at each market.

As always, safety is a top concern at all Everyone’s Harvest markets.

“A healthy and safe farmers' market is our number-one priority,” said Everyone’s Harvest Executive Director Reid Norris. “Our farmers and vendors, like many small businesses in the community, rely on your continued support to bring you necessary services like fresh food and produce. We are doing this to support local farmers and give people a nutritious option for produce. So if you are able to, please keep supporting us.”

Everyone’s Harvest Farmers’ Markets are adhering to guidelines created in collaboration with Monterey County Health Department, California Department of Public Health, and California Alliance of Farmers' Markets, and are operating under an order from the County of Monterey Health Department determining that certified farmers’ markets are “essential businesses” exempt from the “Shelter in Place” order by the Health Department that went into effect on March 18, 2020.

“Everyone's Harvest is working closely with Monterey County Health Department and the cities of Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas to best serve the community,” said Norris. “We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation, and we have implemented a plan of action for our markets.”

The plan of action includes the following: •All vendors will receive Monterey County's Guidelines for Retail Food Establishments and we will be closely monitoring vendor operations.

•Everyone’s Harvest asks that all vendors, farmers, and customers not attend the market if they are sick with fever, sneezing, or coughing.

• Best Practices: Market operations will be conducted in accordance with guidelines created in collaboration with Monterey County Health Department, California Department of Public Health, and California Alliance of Farmers' Markets for farmers’ markets operating during shelter in place. This document will be made available at the market as well, and it recommends heightened measures such as extra space between stands, whenever possible, and disallowing sampling or prepared foods at the markets.

•Helping with Prevention: Hand sanitizer will be offered at the Information Booth, and Everyone's Harvest will monitor and, if necessary, restrict attendance so that the market attendees can maintain “social distancing” recommended by the California Department of Public Health. Market attendees are encouraged to keep 6 feet of personal space between themselves. Sanitizing solution will be used regularly at the Information Booth for any frequently touched items or equipment.

•Vendors will wear gloves whenever possible and wash their hands frequently (handwashing is available at all EH markets). Sampling of products is discontinued until further notice.

•Everyone’s Harvest is following all updates given on COVID-19, including guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Monterey County Health Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and local health officials.

•Everyone’s Harvest is changing its usual layout of its farmers’ markets in order to increase the amount of social distancing as much as possible. (See below.)

“We will continue to take the actions necessary to help protect the community,” said Norris.

“Specifically, if we are notified of a staff member, vendor, or participant testing positive for COVID-19, they will be suspended from any of our certified farmers’ markets until they are medically cleared.”

In order to increase the amount of social distancing as much as possible, Everyone’s Harvest has changed its usual layout of its farmers’ markets.

The new layout splits the market into a waiting zone and a shopping/produce area.

There is a limit of 10 people maximum in the produce area and a limit to the number of people around a booth at one time, with the 6-foot social distancing parameters in effect. Unless a vendor has a two-tent setup, each vendor is limited to one customer at a time.

There are sanitizing station/table set up with wipes and hand sanitizer for customers to use before approaching vendor booths.

Each market will have a list of what produce is being sold by the vendors that day and displaying it at a writing station so shoppers can write their grocery list with the items available and then be in and out of the market as quickly as possible.

Market managers will be on hand to assist customers with their shopping, maintaining the 6-foot rule and making sure shoppers aren’t waiting too long in the waiting area.

Social distancing at Everyone’s Harvest Farmers’ Markets, per California Department of Public Health Guidelines:

Space booths accordingly to increase social distancing among patrons in line and walking about the market.

Ensure that social distancing of six feet per person for non-family members is maintained and make clear that family members [and households] can participate in activities together, stand in line together, etc.

Limit the number of customers at any given time as necessary to reduce outdoor/indoor crowding and lines to meet social distancing guidance.

Increase cleaning and sanitizing frequency of restroom and other high contact areas.

Train employees on best hygiene practices including washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Offer additional hand washing or sanitizing stations throughout the venue.

Eliminate events/marketing that target individuals that the CDPH has identified as higher risk of serious illness for COVID-19.

Encourage activities such as pre-bagging to expedite purchasing.

Suspend sampling activities.

Increase frequency of cleaning of tables, payment devices, and other surfaces.

Eliminate non-essential/non-related services, such as bands or other entertainment.

At the end of the market, continue to utilize local food recovery systems to feed/donate extra products to populations in need.

If applicable, continue accepting EBT payment.

For more information, go to www.everyonesharvest.org or call (831) 384-6961.

About Everyone’s Harvest Everyone’s Harvest was founded in 2002 by Iris Peppard building on her capstone project as a student at California State University Monterey Bay. Since then, the small nonprofit has grown into a robust, values-driven 501(c)3 organization. It operates five certified farmers’ markets and is a catalyst for health-related programs across Monterey County.

The mission is to provide access to healthy, affordable fruits and vegetables through certified farmers’ markets and community food programs. The vision is for every community to have a fair and sustainable food system.

In 2008, Pacific Grove chose Everyone’s Harvest as the organization to run their community farmers’ market. This opportunity was a turning point for Everyone’s Harvest, leading to increased collaborations and partnerships.

More than 2,000 families are served weekly by Everyone’s Harvest markets in Salinas, Marina, and Pacific Grove – with more than 25 small and mid-scale farmers serving them. Everyone’s Harvest takes pride in the growing community of people who value organic food and rely on Everyone’s Harvest for access to local fresh fruits and vegetables.

The farmers’ market locations serve diverse communities and low-income people. Local hospitals host Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets at Natividad Medical Center and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System. Everyone’s Harvest pioneered access to several public nutrition benefits at its farmers’ markets for everyone to access fresh, local, and organic foods.

In 2012, Everyone’s Harvest was presented with Edible Monterey Bay magazine’s nonprofit “Local Hero” award and in 2013 the Monterey County Weekly newspaper named Iris as one of the “25 for the Next 25” movers and shakers in Monterey County. Iris is always quick to point out, “My success is not just my own. It’s because of everyone involved. It’s about a movement. It’s about food justice.”

Today at Everyone’s Harvest: Over 50 percent of Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets farmers are certified organic and come from within a 100-mile radius of Monterey County.

All five of our Certified Farmers’ Markets serve low-income communities and accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), the modern day food stamp.

Two of our Certified Farmers’ Markets are partnerships with medical institutions – Natividad Medical Center and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System – who both partner in the Fresh Rx program.

The organization offers free space to other nonprofits, community groups, and government entities at its markets for public outreach.

Contact: Marci Bracco Cain Chatterbox PR Salinas, CA 93901 (831) 747-7455 https://everyonesharvest.org/