The Barbott family and many others in the same line of work likely heaved a huge sigh of relief this morning when Governor Gretchen Whitmer ended the shutdown of their businesses at one of the most critical junctures in their lives.
The Barbotts had already been planning to open next week, saying on their Facebook page, “We believe that we can social distance by limiting capacity through our greenhouse. Distancing our cash registers, putting up sneeze guards around our cash registers. We are small enough that we can control people shopping in our greenhouse at safe distances.” They also promise, “We will work with email orders for those people that don’t want to come inside the store. We can pull those orders and meet you curbside.” Andy Barbott writes, “We all have to work together since we have been deemed essential in caring and growing for our plants. It is in our best interest for me to keep my family safe and our customers safe by following CDC guidelines to the fullest. We believe we can manage that fine balance of life and our livelihood, our lives depend on it.” So, Barbott’s will get industry guidance at the first of next week and will officially open for business next Friday, May 1st. Barbott’s Farm & Greenhouse is located at 7155 Cleveland Avenue in Stevensville.
The feeling was mutual at the operations of Barbott’s colleagues all across the state. In fact, following the governor’s executive order easing restrictions to allow some businesses, including greenhouses and garden centers to reopen, Michigan Greenhouse Growers Council President Dave Mast of Andy Mast Greenhouses in Grand Rapids issued this statement:
“Michigan’s greenhouses and garden centers are prepared to reopen with a focus on the safety of our customers and employees. We have put safeguards in place and are ready to resume operations and safely get our product out to customers. Spring is a critical time for our industry and the people we employ, so we are pleased to be able to open our doors and resume operations today. It won’t be business as usual but greenhouses and garden centers appreciate the opportunity to put our safeguards into action and step up to operate safely.”
The council issued a list of safeguards that greenhouses have put into place to protect customers and workers including:
- Offering online shopping, call ahead orders, curbside pickup or delivery as available.
- Limiting the number of customers near the cash registers and in the store at any given time. Many retailers are marking the floor in check-out lines to encourage social distancing.
- Sanitizing all carts, baskets, door handles throughout the day, as well as the credit card pads.
- Sanitizing all surfaces regularly.
- Having hand sanitizer available at the checkout for consumers and staff.
- Requiring social distancing between staff and customers in the store, grounds and greenhouses. Greenhouses are so large, social distancing is not hard and the person-per-square foot guidelines are easily met.
- Greenhouses are also respectfully asking any individual – whether a customer or an employee – exhibiting even minor symptoms to stay home.
Under the executive order, greenhouses and garden centers can open as early as today. For more information on the Greenhouse Growers Council, visit mggc.org.
The governor’s actions also bring the state more closely into alignment with other Midwest states, which pleases Michigan Farm Bureau President Carl Bednarski who says the state’s fourth-largest agricultural sector will benefit from the move. In total, the industry contributes $700 million annually to the economy and employs roughly 9,000 people.
Bednarski says, “Michigan Farm Bureau supports Gov. Whitmer’s decision to safely reopen the state’s greenhouses and garden centers and permit landscapers to return to work,” and adds, “These common-sense changes are the first step to restarting our economy and protecting the financial and social health of our state.”
Bednarski reminds everyone, “Our farmers are businessmen and women who are innovators and entrepreneurs. They have the tools, talent pool and technology to quickly adapt and adopt new best practices with a stronger focus on public health to provide safe customer experiences.”
Bednarski adds that the Michigan Farm Bureau continues to urge Whitmer, House Speaker Lee Chatfield, and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey to develop a bipartisan strategy to safely reopen Michigan’s economy, saying, “Our diverse network of farms and businesses — the backbone of our communities — are relying on their collaboration and coordination.”
