A group of Michigan retail greenhouses and garden centers have created a plan to safely open during the coronavirus crisis and have submitted it to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer with hopes of being able to open by May 1.

On Monday, April 20, the Michigan Greenhouse Growers Council said it provided Whitmer with an action plan for how greenhouses and garden centers could safely operate, much like grocery stores, while meeting the needs of consumers.

”The threat and impact of COVID-19 is real, and we are not discounting that,” said Dave Mast of Andy Mast Greenhouses in Grand Rapids and president of the Michigan Greenhouse Growers Council in a prepared statement.

“We feel it is our responsibility to operate in a safe way upon reopening and that is why garden centers have taken carefully targeted steps to ensure safe operations, including changes to how we do business.”

On April 9, Whitmer extended the stay-at-home order and strengthened restrictions on large retailers, including a required shutdown of non-essential areas like garden centers and plant nurseries. That order runs through April 30.

“If you’re not buying food or medicine or other essential items, you should not be going to the store,” Whitmer said.

The Michigan Greenhouse Growers Council’s action plan recommends that the state’s garden centers offer online shopping and making call-ahead orders, curbside pickups and delivery available.

It proposes that greenhouses and garden centers limit the number of customers in the store at any given time and near the cash registers, and would sanitize all carts, baskets, door handles and credit card pads throughout the day.

Sanitizing surfaces would occur regularly, and hand sanitizer would be available at checkout for staff and customers under the plan. Ill customers and employees would be asked to continue staying home.

Several greenhouses offer open-air environments, the council said. And due to their large size, social distancing is not difficult, the group says.

As a central part of Michigan’s agricultural economy, the greenhouse industry employs more than 9,000 people across the state and contributes $740 million to the economy annually, according to the council.

“Spring is a critical time for our industry and the Michiganders we employ,” said Chris Schwartz of Schwartz Greenhouse in Romulus. “If we don’t get back to work soon, there will be a devastating impact to greenhouse and garden workers and their families.”

Schwartz’s Greenhouse in Romulus has planned for dedicated shopping hours for the most vulnerable members of the community and have dedicated employees to sanitize shopping carts when it’s allowed to open.

Weesies Brothers Greenhouse in Montague has installed Plexiglas enclosures at all checkouts to protect employees and the public, as well as spacing labels on the floor to encourage social distancing. Eckert’s Greenhouse in Sterling Heights has installed similar signage and plans to hand out masks and gloves to shoppers at its entrance.

In Lansing, VanAtta Greenhouse plans to offer curbside and delivery options for customers.

The Michigan Greenhouse Growers Council is a non-profit organization in Lansing that “represents the interests of greenhouse growers at the state and national level,” according to its website.

A message seeking comment was left with the governor’s office.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

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