While Austin restaurant dining rooms are temporarily closed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, local farmers markets, farms, producers, and wholesalers are still out there serving the people, albeit with modified services and methods. Whereas grocery stores are struggling to keep staples in stock, farmers markets have plenty of fresh produce and dairy products on-hand. Even some restaurants are adding markets to their operations.

The Sustainable Food Center (SFC) lobbied for the inclusion of farmers markets as essential services under the stay-at-home order that runs through Monday, April 13. SFC runs two farmers markets — one in downtown and the other in Sunset Valley — both of which will remain open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The farmers markets are “critical services for the community,” said SFC communications director Becca Montjoy. Since grocery stores have been mobbed since the early days of the outbreak, farmers markets offer another option, with fresh produce and goods.

But in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, SFC’s farmers market operations have changed. There’s a usually line to enter the market because there is a 10-person limit inside the shopping area. Customers are being asked to wash their hands upon entry, making use of the newly installed handwashing stations, observe the six-foot social distancing recommendation from other shoppers and employees, and refrain from touching any items until they’ve been purchased.

Normally, the farmers market is a community, as Montjoy explained, where people can get together and congregate and sample food. Now, it’s about procuring food while following the rules: “coming in, keeping your distance, having a list, getting what you need, and going back home,” she said. It’s utilitarian for now.

Montjoy is still proud that the SFC farmers market remain open to “provide for the community. She explained: “There’s a level of sadness that we’re all carrying because our reality has been flipped on its head. It’s been a lot of hard work, but I think it can be really inspiring when you see how quickly people can come together and change when it’s really needed.”

SFC’s Farm Viability Director Jenifer DeAtley said that market sales were up significantly in the first week, but have since started to drop off. “That said, we are still seeing a demand through customers and selling produce, meat, and eggs,” she said. Most of SFC’s farmer markets vendors are still showing up each week to sell their goods.

East Austin farm Boggy Creek is still open during this time. Initially, operators Carol Ann Sayle and Tracy Geyer reported that business has been busy — “doubled” as they noted to Eater — so much so they had to briefly downsize its schedule in order to have enough stock for its customers. At first, it was only open on Wednesday and Saturdays, but recently expanded its schedule to Wednesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sayle and Geyer are currently working on implementing an online system for preorders in order to minimize in-person contact. Still, the farm is requiring in-person shoppers to wear gloves (which are being provided), limiting the number of people to five at a time, and implementing social distancing requirements.

While East Austin farm-to-table prix fixe restaurant truck Eden East closed down, chef Sonya Cote and David Barrow are still running the farmstand, though under a preorder pickup service model through email. On deck are $20 and $30 produce bags, as well as jarred add-ons. Its hours are from Wednesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Texas Farmers Market is also still operating at Lakeline (Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Mueller (Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). As part of its coronavirus guidelines (which are similar to SFC’s), all food will be packaged and people cannot eat or drink at the markets. Preorders directly from vendors are encouraged as well.

Then there are a number of groups working to bring fresh produce directly to homes. Austin-based produce delivery service Good Apple launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the company continue to feed those in need, particularly the elderly and the immunocompromised. ”We want to ensure these members of our community have convenient access to the food they need without risking exposure,” as explained on Good Apple’s crowdfunding page. The relief boxes will be full of staples such as milk, canned proteins and fruit, as well as fresh produce.

Wholesaler Farm to Table transitioned into direct-to-home deliveries during the pandemic. “We have food and we know people need it,” director Sam Lash said, so it made sense to open up its services to Austin residents at this time.

“Now more than ever, local businesses need the Austin community’s support,” Lash explained. “And when people order through us they’ll be helping our local farmers as well.”

After the first week, Farm to Table reported that it still has plenty of food, which can be ordered online. There are two $100 farm boxes: an omnivore one and the vegetarian one, with add-on options spanning angus and wagyu steaks, axis venison chop and burgers, goat cheeses, pasture raised heirloom chickens, farm fresh eggs, yogurt, South Texas strawberries, and more.

“We had to do it,” Lash explained, as the company has been losing wholesale orders since restaurants are either temporarily closed or pivoted to takeout orders which haven’t entailed as much supply.

“We had no other choice,” Lash continued, if Farm to Table wants to stay in business. It’s “either die or survive.”