LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Nearly a dozen Los Angeles farmers markets have been authorized to reopen, with city officials approving their plans to enforce social distancing requirements, authorities announced today.
Mayor Eric Garcetti on Monday ordered the suspension of farmers markets after several were identified over the weekend as being dangerously overcrowded in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
He said the markets would have to remain closed until they submitted plans to enforce social-distancing requirements mandated by the virus. Those plans must be approved by the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services.
Some of the requirements for an acceptable plan include establishing no more than one person per 50 square feet allowed in at a time, a plan for one entry and one exit and designation of one person to handle cash payments who does not handle food.
A list of requirements each plan must have is available at https://streetsla.lacity.org/sites/default/files/farmers_market_final.pdf
Farmers markets approved to open Sundays are:
-- Melrose Place Farmers' Market at Melrose Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard;
-- Brentwood Farmers' Market at Gretna Green Way and San Vicente Boulevard;
-- Larchmont Farmers' Market at Larchmont Boulevard (first Sunday of the month); and
-- Historic Downtown Los Angeles Farmers' Market at 209 W. Fifth St.
Farmers markets approved to open Tuesdays are:
-- Old Los Angeles Farmers' Market at South Avenue 58 and Figueroa Street; and
-- Sherman Oaks Farmers' Market at 14006 Riverside Drive.
Farmers markets approved to open Wednesdays are:
-- Lincoln Heights Farmers' Market at North Broadway and Sichel Street;
-- LNR Warner Center Farmers' Market at 21255 Burbank Blvd.; and
-- Adams Vermont Farmers' Market at 1432 W. Adams Blvd.
The Venice Farmers' Market has been approved to open Friday at 500 Venice Blvd., and the NoHo Farmers' Market can open Saturday at 5331 Bakman Ave.
People who operate farmers markets that have been suspended during the pandemic can go to streetsla.lacity.org/covid for more information and to submit plans.