Farmgate Market closure could be a “considerable” blow to small businesses

Stallholders and organisers of one of Hobart’s beloved markets are disappointed the Premier is considering a shutdown, with considerable measures taken by organisers and residents to keep the community safe.

A SHUTDOWN of Hobart’s Farmgate Market could come as a blow to many.

Stallholder Neil Fuller, of Surges Bay Orchard, said he was impressed with the efforts Hobartians and market organisers had put in to keeping Farmgate safe.

Stallholder Neil Fuller, of Surges Bay Orchard, and customer Brock Gardner at the Farmgate Market, Hobart. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

However, with Premier Peter Gutwein voicing his disappointment with the market, Mr Fuller said if it were to shut down it would be a “considerable” blow to his and many other stalls.

“I was quite disappointed hearing that,” he said. “I thought the market was running really well.”

“I thought that generally people were fairly impeccable on their social distancing and it was a sort of ‘buy and go’ attitude,” he said.

“There wasn’t the sort of conversation and atmosphere that the market usually brings.”

He said he held no concerns over the safety of stallholders or customers, and would happily continue to have a stall at the market.

“I think the protocols that the stallholders and the market has in place are good, and there’s not much of an infection risk there,” he said.