Garden centers and greenhouses are asking the Governor for clarification on her executive order calling for certain goods, including those sold in garden centers and paint, to be cordoned off from the public.
The Michigan Farm Bureau is calling for Governor Whitmer to clarify what the order means- specifically whether things like curbside pick up or deliveries are permitted.
Audrey Sebolt with the Farm Bureau said many greenhouses and garden centers rely on sales from just a few weeks.
“Their income that they make is going to start very soon and will occur over the next 6-8 weeks. That’s an entire year’s worth of income that could potentially be lost if this order is extended after April 30th.
Sebolt said no amount of federal loans will help garden centers that aren’t able to make sales during this time.
Denise Prielipp is with Hilltop Greenhouse and Farms outside of Ann Arbor. She said her big fear is that the stay-at-home order will be extended beyond May 1st.
“May and June is the month our livelihood is made. You work 6 months for 60-90 days of sales.”
Prelipp said she’s been particularly frustrated by what she sees as a lack of communication from the Governor’s Office about how garden centers can respond.
Janice Jenkins works at Elm Creek in Farwell. She said she understands the importance of keeping people safe during this time - but feels frustrated by how the order has rolled out.
“Right now with the new order it’s not quite clear why the smaller farm and hardwares are open and able to sell the same products we are - or that we could.”
Jenkins said if her business is able to open back up on May 1st she’ll be okay - but there will still be revenue lost from the April closure.
The Governor’s Office did not respond to our request for comment.