Barnegat Bay boating. Internet photo. Date unknown. This is what “too close” looks like in a boat.

Paul Goldfinger,  Editor@Blogfinger.net

The Corona epidemic is having a ripple effect on boating.  A boater can go out, but social distancing must be practiced, and officials will be looking out.  You can catch the virus in a boat as well as anywhere; something like getting pregnant.

The Outlets Farmers Market in Ft. Myers, Fla. March 27,2020. Paul Goldfinger photo. © Customers line up outside.

Composing a photo always has a challenge, but now you can’t get close to anyone, so if you want a close-up, either stand back 6 feet or put on a telephoto lens.  The photo above was taken from about 6 feet away at least.

The produce vendors have required everyone to line up and just enter a few at a time to keep those distances.  But each week over the last month, there are less and less vendors and customers.  Today it looks like it will soon close.   I spoke to a woman in line, and she said that she liked shopping there because “It is safer than that at Publix Market..”

This farmers market is a microcosm of what happens to our economy during a lock down.  The ripple effect is international, because who will buy perishable items that were shipped some time ago such as onions from Peru and asparagus from Mexico?   The Mexican border has been closed, and America’s situation takes effect on both sides of the border.

We met a cheese salesman from England.  He comes to Florida for 4 months each winter to sell Wisconsin cheese.  Those items are perishable, and he goes back to England in a week.  There, he tells us, a bad viral peak is expected in London on the heels of New York.

Similar issues arise for the guy who is selling Italian olive oil.  The produce is produced to a large extent locally, and now the tourist business is confined to home, so these farmers are facing a large spoilage and cash problem.   Most of the workers speak Spanish, so they are also being affected here and at home.  You can go on and on, and most everyone is affected in one way or another.

Some “essential ” businesses are still able to function, while “nonessential” businesses are less fortunate.  But who is to say what is “essential” because most business are dependent on others whether they are called “essential” or not.  If you are a car repairman, you may be open, but you  will need parts and materials which may be produced by closed businesses. Maybe some car parts factories are now making respirators.

Construction jobs are allowed to proceed, but even though they are considered essential, they do need lots of stuff.

Asbury Park c 2018. Paul Goldfinger, Blogfinger.net ©

MARVELOUS WONDERETTES:  Kids can still dream while isolated.