Even under COVID-19, Northbrook Farmers Market is the bees' knees

This, apparently, is the year of the strawberry.

Some types of produce respond better than others in certain years. Dale Duda said it's the strawberries that look really good this year.

She's an expert. She's been the market manager and president of the all-volunteer Northbrook Farmers Market Association since it started a dozen years ago.

While it may be the year of the strawberry, it's also the year of a life-altering pandemic.

Still, the Northbrook Farmers Market started its 2020 run as scheduled on June 17, and COVID-19 hasn't really plagued its weekly sessions on Wednesdays.

"We had no idea what to expect. Would we have way fewer people than our usual crowd? But a lot of the vendors are selling out. They are happy about it, but they are selling out," Duda said. "They're doing the best they can to bring as much as they can and they're selling out of stuff."

Farmers markets were deemed an essential service at the outset of the COVID precautions, she said, and if there's been a downturn in participation she hasn't seen it.

"We're getting a couple of thousand (people) a day, comparable to years past," Duda said.

The 16 vendors culled from within a 150-mile radius of Northbrook offer their products from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of the Meadow Shopping Plaza at Cherry Lane and Meadow Road. There's fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, cheese, honey and more, even a knife- and blade-sharpening service.

A baker supplying breads and croissants initially was caught by surprise by stronger-than-anticipated demand. They've increased production to satisfy the masses.

Too few croissants is not a terrible problem when reality could have been much worse.

The association had to let a few things go due to the pandemic. The "community tables" allowing local organizations to promote their cause will have to return in 2021. An Aug. 5 customer appreciation day, still being planned, won't feature free popcorn and lemonade as it has in the past.

Smart planning, though, and people willing to follow directions have resulted in a positive start to market season. Some vendors have told Duda this is the best layout they've seen.

"We've had to reinvent the way people shop, as have all markets," said Duda, who at market wears not only a KN-95 mask but also a face shield made from the Northbrook Public Library's 3-dimensional printer.

Rather than the vendors setting up their booths "tent leg to tent leg" in the middle of the parking lot they've been spread out a bit and ring the perimeter.

A maximum 200 shoppers at any given time - tracked one by one with a hand-held counter - are asked to visit the booths walking in a particular direction. It's been observed well enough that after dogs initially were banned, people were allowed to bring them starting July 1.

"If it gets to be a problem we pull the plug, but I think people are responsible, mostly," Duda said.

When there is a crowd greater than 200, people are allowed to enter and wait in the center of the parking lot, distancing themselves in a line, until their turn comes.

Hand sanitizers are available throughout the market. Vendors will not serve those who do not cover their mouth and nose with a mask. Customers cannot handle the produce, only point to what they want for the vendor to fill an order.

Especially on the first couple of Wednesdays, the market volunteers asked customers for feedback. The few complaints they received pertained to people not wearing masks properly. Customers haven't been afraid to tell staff about it, Duda said.

"We have to make sure that we're doing it as safely as we possibly can and that people perceive it as safe, perceive it as a safe space, and I feel it's pretty darn safe," Duda said.

Though it may make it difficult to eat the strawberries, Duda really only has one peeve about the masks during what has been a surprisingly strong start to the Northbrook Farmers Market.

"You can't see smiles under a mask," Duda said.