The dilemma facing shoppers at most farmers markets centers on which vendor has the best-looking peppers or carrots, or maybe the best prices.
But another consideration has crept in at the Saturday morning Haile Village market: which vendors are wearing masks.
Several vendors — selling meat, vegetables, olive oil — do not. One cited his own health as a reason. Others declined to say.
Meanwhile, some vendors post signs asking customers to wear face coverings or tack the Alachua County rule signs — ubiquitous at businesses — on their booths.
“It’s kind of like the whole United States — some people are on one side, some on the other side and some kind of in the middle,” market manager Pam Worsham said. “There are some vendors that don’t believe that any government agency has the right to make that rule. Some are more vocal than others.”