Hobart’s Farm Gate Market reopens to the delight of stallholders and shoppers

The reopening of the popular Farm Gate Market has been met with delight by shoppers, who praised organisers for the strict new hygiene measures.

THE popular Farm Gate Market returned on Sunday with strict new health and hygiene measures.

Patrons received a spray of hand sanitiser upon entry into the Bathurst St site while organisers were seen reminding people to follow health advice in keeping 1.5m apart.

Lines to stalls appeared longer than usual as customers left generous gaps between each other as police officers patrolled the site.

The market’s reopening, after a brief closure following Government crowd-gathering concerns, was met with delight from shoppers who turned out to support local growers.

Police officers patrol the Farm Gate Market. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

The management-enforced “solo” shopping day made it a less social outing than previous market days, but it failed to dent the mood of shoppers pleased to see the stalls return for business.

Regular market-goer Olivia Dale said organisers should be commended for the market’s strict new hygiene measures, which included wash stations set up between stalls.

“It’s pleasing to see it reopened and I feel it’s important to support small local businesses, many of whom do not have a shop front to sell their produce,” she said.

Olivia Dale, of Cambridge, is happy that the market is back. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Stallholder Ashley Schuller, of Olde Spikey Bridge Peanut Butter, said the Farm Gate Market’s reopening “keeps us small business owners ticking along”.

“Organisers can’t do any more than they already have done to get the market clean and healthy for people shopping for fresh produce,” he said.

“After the week off last week over Easter it’s good to see people come out to buy and support.”