Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-59 (EO) Friday, extending her “Stay-Home, Stay-Safe” order through May 15. The new order, effective immediately, allows the re-opening and return of workers within Michigan’s greenhouses, nurseries and landscape businesses while following outlined safety guidelines.
The governor’s actions bring the state more closely into alignment with other Midwest states.
The governor’s actions bring the state more closely into alignment with other Midwest
states.
Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) President Carl Bednarski said 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.
“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,” Bednarski said. “These common-sense changes are the first step to restarting our economy and protecting
the financial and social health of our state.
“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 added that MFB continues to urge Whitmer, House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clark Lake) to develop a bipartisan strategy to safely reopen Michigan’s economy.
“Our diverse network of farms and businesses — the backbone of our communities — are relying on their collaboration and coordination,” he said.
Owners and operators of HillTop Greenhouse & Farms in Ann Arbor, Denise Prielipp and husband Ken are also pleased with the governor’s decision, saying customer safety is paramount moving forward.
“Businesses including greenhouses, garden centers, and nurseries are delighted with governor’s announcement this morning,” Prielipp said. “As an industry, we are thankful that the governor put the people of Michigan first with the ‘Stay-Home, Stay-Safe’ policy.”
HillTop Greenhouse & Farms is fully prepared with one-way aisles, cart sanitation stations, one entrance, two exits, and other safety recommendations provided by the state at our location.
This week, the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released an updated COVID-19 guidance document indicating “workers supporting the growth and distribution of plants” as essential workers.
MFB initiated an action request on April 8, asking members and agriculture supporters to send emails to their state legislators and the governor on the matter of opening greenhouses and nurseries. It resulted in a total of 56,000 responses.
