RICHMOND-Virginia’s House and Senate passed a bill deeming farmers markets essential businesses during a state of emergency.
Virginia House Bill 2302 was first proposed following the impact of covid-19. Essential businesses were allowed to remain open when quarantine began in March 2020, though farmers markets were shutdown, including the Williamsburg Farmers Market. The new bill will allow farmers markets to remain open in a state of emergency.
Williamsburg Farmers Market manager Tracy Herner is pleased with the proposed bill.
Farmers Markets “are integral to their communities,” Herner said. “Farmers Markets are more than an event. They offer people another choice as to where to go to purchase food safely, what type of business they wish to support, and allows farmers, bakers, and watermen to stay in business.”
Now that the bill has passed in both the House and Senate, it moves on to Governor Ralph Northam for approval.