Route 1’s oldest continuously operating farmers market will be open again on Thursday, March 26 with the first hour of the market reserved for seniors and immune compromised shoppers.

Operators of the Riverdale Park Farmers Market, located at 4650 Queensbury Road, said it will be “unofficially open” from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday. The farmers market closed last Thursday due to a lack of clarity over an executive order from the governor regarding gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.

Starting tomorrow, the farmers market is asking customers to follow some simple guidelines: Stay home if you are feeling sick; preorder, prepay or set up home delivery if possible; leave pets at home; plan to shop alone; try to pay by credit card, PayPal or Apple Pay to avoid handing cash back and forth; bag your own purchases; and wash your hands before and after going.

The market stands will also be following some guidelines of their own, including ending the practice of giving out tasting cups, wearing gloves when handling money and setting up handwashing stations.

When Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan first considered shutting down non-essential businesses, the state Department of Agriculture argued that farmers markets are essential, arguing that they are an essential part of the food supply chain, especially in areas without good access to traditional grocery stores.

They were included on the legal guidance for the executive order, along with grocery stores, liquor stores, farms and food processing plants.

Still, people across the country have debated how to handle farmers markets during the pandemic, because they typically are a gathering place for small groups. A larger farmers market in Baltimore shut down for this reason.