PHOTO GALLERY: Salem goes to the market again – with new social rules
Flowers, masks and safety tips were all part of the scene as Salem’s Saturday Market opened April 4. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
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Salem’s Saturday Market opened for the season Saturday, but it was definitely not business as usual.
Market organizers this year adopted some visible changes to help curb the spread of COVID-19 while still allowing shoppers to pick up local goods and fresh.
The safety precautions included signs about social distancing throughout the market, new hand washing stations, sanitizing wipe dispensers, limited access to booths, and chalk lines to keep shoppers at safe distance. Another change: no tables and chairs in the food court area.
On opening day, shoppers had plenty of space as the vendor booths were placed father apart. The rule for entering booths was no more than two people at a time, and special sanitizing procedures were required for handling cash and credit cards.
The market, located on a lot at 865 Marion St. S.E., is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through October. The new health precautions were put into effect at least through April.
The market web page noted that open air markets are classified like grocery stores in terms of the new COVID business guidelines.
Market organizers urged people to support their small local businesses, but also cautioned people not to attend the market if sick.
“We love our market guests and appreciate the support, but if you are ill, please join us when you feel better,” the Salem Community Markets web page noted. For more about the changes, visit https://www.salemcommunitymarkets.com/
Salem Reporter Ron Cooper captured the opening-day scene, as vendors and shoppers navigated a new type of market scene.
Flowers, masks and health alerts were all part of the scene at Salem’s Saturday Market on April 4. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Masks and health alerts were all part of the scene at Salem’s Saturday Market on April 4. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Vendors wear masks and and post health alerts, as Salem’s Saturday Market adjusts to COVID-19 precautions on April 4. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Masks and health warnings were just part of the scene April 4 at Salem’s Saturday Market. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Flowers, masks and health warnings were just part of the scene April 4 at Salem’s Saturday Market. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Flowers, masks and health warnings were just part of the scene April 4 at Salem’s Saturday Market. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Flowers, masks and health warnings were just part of the scene April 4 at Salem’s Saturday Market. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
It was a social distancing scene at Salem’s Saturday Market on April 4. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
There was no shortage of health reminders at Salem’s Saturday Market on April 4. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Vendors took social distancing precautions at Salem’s Saturday Market on April 4. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Flowers, masks and health alerts were all part of the scene at Salem’s Saturday Market on April 4. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Health alerts and hand washing stations were set up for those who attended Salem’s Saturday Market on April 4. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Health warnings were just part of the scene April 4 at Salem’s Saturday Market. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Photographer Ron Cooper and his wife Penny moved to Salem in 1969 to take a job as photographer at the Oregon Statesman (later the Statesman Journal). Their three children, Monica, Kimberly, and Christopher, attended and graduated from Salem public schools. Cooper retired from the Statesman Journal in 2001 but, has continued his passion for photography in many ways, including as a photographer for the Salem Reporter.
