​EL DORADO COUNTY PROVIDES GUIDELINES TO COUNTY GROWERS IN ADVANCE OF TOURIST-HEAVY HARVEST SEASON

(PLACERVILLE, CA) – El Dorado County officials today provided a document to agricultural businesses which outlines precautions and protocols they can follow to ensure their operations are safe in light of the COVID-19 pandemic when they open for the 2020 harvest season.

"The instructions allow El Dorado County growers, including those in the popular Apple Hill area, to provide their high quality agriculture products and uniquely, locally produced handicrafts while discouraging activities that are considered risky for COVID-19 transmission," said Public Health Officer, Dr. Nancy Williams.

Some of the protocols include the following:

• Prevent crowds from gathering: limit numbers of customers in facility at any time to maintain 6 ft. distancing; keep lines moving quickly; distance or remove tables.
• Keep people distanced: mark 6 ft. distances apart, both inside and outside, at restrooms, etc.
• Prevent unnecessary contact: provide contactless payments systems; no sampling; no shared condiment bottles, areas, pens, etc.; if customers bring their own shopping bags, employees should not handle them; customers should bag their purchased items themselves.
• Increase sanitization: assign employees to frequently clean high touch surfaces, including tables, restrooms, counters, shields, door knobs, payment devices, etc.
• Require face covers for all employees and visitors.
• Notify crafters of and enforce compliance with the Retail Guidelines to ensure guest and crafter safety. Reminder: El Dorado County's Ranch Marketing Ordinance states "Handicrafts shall be products that are made domestically by hand, normally sold by the person that made them, and do not include items that are mass produced by others."
  

"If visitor numbers are kept to a manageable size that enables safe distancing, the harvest season can be an excellent opportunity for immediate household members to enjoy the beauty and bounty of our county without undue risk of being infected with COVID-19," Williams said.

A copy of the protocols can be found here. 

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