search
Donate

Witten Farm Market employees make do amid extreme heat warnings

By:
Posted on:

< < Back to

ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – It might feel like temperatures are in the triple digits outside, but the heat isn’t dampening spirits too much for the workers at the Witten Farm Market in Athens.  

“So far it hasn’t been too bad,” said Millie Ryan, a Market employee. “But this little stretch … of being over a hundred degrees, definitely gonna be a little rough, but we have the tools.”

A young woman wearing a red Witten Farm Market shirt stands under a tent
Millie Ryan is an employee at the Witten Farm Market. She’s one of many people who are working outside amid extreme heat. [Megan Acker | WOUB]
Those tools include fans, cold drinks, and buckets of ice, courtesy of their management and neighboring GoMart. Despite the equipment, there’s no substitute for getting out of the sun. 

“On normal days we wouldn’t have as many breaks as we do right now,” said Ryan. “But every hour we’re kind of taking just fifteen minutes to go inside the gas station, or walk across the street to get a drink…” 

While the employees might wither in the heat, the produce is holding up well. 

 “Right now there’s enough customers where … (the produce is) kind of getting out off the wagon quick enough that we’re not losing too much,” said Ryan. 

 Even so, the Witten Farm Market has planned to close an hour early this week to help keep employees safe and out of the evening sun. Hours are expected to return to the normal 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting Friday. 

 In the meantime, Ryan remembers her favorite safety trick. 

 “Just keeping an eye out for each other and making sure they’re alright.”