To the Editor:
Saturday Morning I made my usual trek to the Brownwood Farmers’ Market to find nothing there.
Now, I understand the Coronavirus bell curve and the need to flatten it through social distancing.
In general, I support social distancing. On this basis – I can understand the reasoning behind canceling entertainment that draws a large number of people together in close quarters. But closing the Farmers Market has the opposite effect. I am an example; You see – I still needed the items that I was to purchase at Brownwood. With Brownwood closed, I had to go to a enclosed supermarket to get those items. Yes, customers will crowd around certain vendors – but how does that differ from the crowds in the supermarkets.
Is it not safer to allow people to shop outside in the open air? I suggest that the Brownwood Farmers Market be reopened next Saturday and onward. The only thing that they should do is ask vendors to refrain from giving product samples in open dishes. Keeping the market closed only hurts the small vendors. The closure does nothing toward spreading the virus – in fact, the closure may enhance the potential spread of the virus by forcing people indoors.
Steve Bressi
Village of St. Charles