Farmers’ markets call for inclusion on food supply chain decisions

Farmers’ market organisers are proactive about coronavirus safety protocols and call for inclusion on local food supply decisions.

Melbourne Farmers Markets have continued through the pandemic as essential food retailers with stallholders and patrons adhering to strict safety measures. Picture: Melbourne Farmers Markets

FARMERS’ market organisers and stallholders want to be included in community and policymaker decisions about the local food supply, after several market cancellations last month.

Victorian Farmers’ Market Association executive officer Kate Archdeacon and Melbourne Farmers Market director Miranda Sharp said last-minute closures of markets at Lancefield and Talbot highlighted a lack of consultation by some decision makers.

Their call for more collaboration to keep outdoor food markets open comes after a reader poll by The Weekly Times revealed 90 per cent of 270 respondents supported markets’ continued operation.

Ms Sharp said the metro markets that operated under the MFM banner were taking a cautious approach to coronavirus restrictions.

Tallarook Farmers’ Market manager Cynthia Lim postponed that regional market after consultation with organisers and stallholders.

“Our personal situation was being on a narrow street, and not having an oval to move to made it a harder to actually follow all the guidelines,” she said.

Woodend Farmers’ Market manager Matt Barry said his monthly market had faced criticism online for remaining open, but had continued operations with safety procedures and received no complaints outside social media.

MORE

WHY THE TROLLS ARE WRONG ON FARMERS’ MARKETS

ONLINE ABUSE FORCES FARMERS’ MARKET CLOSURES

ELPHINSTONE GROWERS STUNNED BY PANDEMIC RUSH ON APPLES