Seattle’s farmers markets worried about business in coronavirus outbreak

On a typical Sunday, more than a hundred vendors, selling fruits and vegetables, candles and other homemade foods and crafts would line the streets of downtown Ballard for the neighborhood Farmer’s Market. But this Sunday, there were fewer than a dozen.

On Friday night, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan suspended the markets through April 13 in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. The few remaining sellers either hadn’t heard the directive in time or were taking their chances.

“We don’t have a safety net,” Carma McCloughlin told the Gee and Ursula Show on KIRO Radio.

As she stood under her tent, she pointed to her soaps and candles that have been her main source of income since she started selling at the Ballard Market in 2006. On any given day, she says she can count on a steady stream of sales.

“Right now, I have no idea where or how I’m going to make the money I need to support my family,” McCloughlin said.

The next stall over, Saad Sidhu had already wrapped up for the day after selling all his frozen berries and jams made from his family’s farm in the Puyallup Valley. Although he’s doing okay now, he worries if the closure of the markets extends beyond April.

“We usually employ 40 to 50 people each spring and summer but if this continues, we would have to cut our workforce to make ends meet,” he said. “This is all so hard to comprehend.”

The vendors were hoping they would be exempt from restrictions being implemented to stop the spread of coronavirus. They question why they have to shut down when grocery stores are still open.

“We are also like a shopping center, but this is outside,” McCLoughlin said. “If anything, it’s safer, we’re all wearing gloves and because we’re outdoors, there is a lot of distance between customers.”

The Seattle Farmer’s Markets operates the markets in Ballard, Capitol Hill, the University District and West Seattle.

My thoughts:

As we navigate through this coronavirus pandemic, one of my biggest concerns is the economic impact on small businesses and gig workers who could be financially wiped out during this crisis.

Earlier this week, I visited the owner of Jennell’s Flowers and Pies shop in Milton. Her business has dropped 75% since people have been hunkering down at home. Some very generous Gee and Ursula show listeners visited her shop and she sold more than 50 pies in three days! Thank you so much for your kindness and compassion.

As we learn more about the virus and face even tighter restrictions, it will be even more challenging to find ways to support our neighborhood businesses. But based on what I have witnessed so far, these challenging times will bring out the helpers, and that is very comforting.

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