Coronavirus fear sparks councils to cancel farmers’ markets

Farmers’ markets in three local councils have been cancelled, despite state government advice that food markets should be considered essential services.

THREE local councils have cancelled farmers’ markets in response to the coronavirus crisis, despite the Victorian Government’s announcement that food markets can remain open.

While the majority of Victoria’s scheduled farmers’ markets will go ahead this weekend, the cities of Casey, Greater Bendigo and Boroondara prohibited markets from taking place after completing risk assessments.

Bendigo Farmers’ Market manager Chris Hain said he was disappointed with the decision, which was announced yesterday and made in conjunction with the local health authority.

“Probably the most disappointing part of the conversations we have been having is that

we are putting in place protocols and practices that are far stricter than what anyone would see in a supermarket,” Mr Hain said.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THIS WEEKEND’S FARMERS’ MARKET LOCATIONS

“We operate, as state level officials have deemed, as an essential service but are being treated quite differently.

“We believe markets are a much lower-risk proposition than supermarkets, if we manage it properly.”

Due to yesterday’s announcement, Bendigo’s market scheduled for this afternoon at Hargreaves Mall was cancelled.

Mr Hain said a small number of stallholders had set up in a car park outside The Good Loaf Sourdough Bakery & Cafe at 404 Hargreaves Street, to deliver pre-ordered produce to customers and for limited sales.

Victorian Farmers’ Market Association executive officer Kate Archdeacon said the councils were prioritising their own reputational risk over the importance of the food supply chain.

“The explanation they are giving is that they are doing a risk assessment and it is not worth the risk to keep the markets open,” she said. “Really, it is just that they don’t care about the economic effects.

“Markets are one of the only places you can get fresh produce now. They should still run.”

Bendigo Mayor Cr Margaret O’Rourke said the city “was not comfortable with the event proceeding as it was not possible to properly control social distancing and hand hygiene requirements”.

“Even if attendance numbers were capped or controlled in some way, people would possibly still be touching produce and exchanging money and we felt it was too much of a risk to people’s health and safety,” she said.

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Ms Archdeacon said the Great Alpine Shire, in contrast, had been incredibly supportive of keeping the Myrtleford Farmers’ Market open.

“The market is updating the council all the time on their precautions and what they have put in place to keep people safe. We all know the impacts on the High Country after the bushfires. The council is right behind the market going ahead and allowing people to make some money,” she said.

The Bendigo market’s organisers are looking into alternative ways of continuing to operate, Mr Hain said.

Bagged apples will be seen at farmers’ markets as increased hygiene becomes necessary.

He also manages the weekly Castlemaine Farmers’ Market, which will continue to run with increased hygiene and physical distancing practices.

Boroondara Farmers’ Market, which is normally held on the third and fifth Saturday of the month, was suspended from Wednesday, March 18 until Tuesday, April 14. Stallholders who were scheduled to attend last weekend’s market, instead sold produce at the Melbourne Food Hub in Alphington.

The City of Casey yesterday directed Berwick Farmers Market, held at The Old Cheese Factory, to close until further notice.

Ms Archdeacon said the VFMA was drafting guidelines for all markets about how to minimise coronavirus risks, but that most markets had already put in place stringent measures including cashless payment, mandatory social distancing, no non-food stalls, no hot food, no seating and more handwashing stations.

Melbourne Farmers’ Market director Miranda Sharp said the group’s markets would still go ahead and that the cities of Darebin and Moreland, as well as Coburg Primary School, had been supportive.

“We’ve got two sets of responsibilities, to our customers and to our producers,” she said.

“This weekend we will be actively limiting numbers and absolutely controlling people’s activities whether they like it or not.”

She said Melbourne Farmers Markets was also launching an online shop, hosted by Open Food Network, where customers could pre-order produce.

The online shop opened at 4pm today, and Ms Sharp described it as an “essential food store providing locally grown Victorian produce in a click and collect environment”.

“It will only be open for 24 hours this week, but will be up and running with some fabulous producers aboard in readiness for this weekend.

“But we will also still be trading.”

Many other markets, including Wangaratta and Bendigo, are in the process of setting up similar online shops through Open Food Network.

“A lot of markets are supporting producers to go online and have already been taking pre-orders so people can pick up and leave,” Ms Archdeacon said.

FARMERS’ MARKETS ON THIS WEEKEND

Saturday, March 28

Abbotsford (relocated to Alphington)

Bentleigh

Coburg

Elwood (absorbed the St Kilda Primary market and will be fortnightly)

Lancefield & District (moved across the road to the park to allow for more space between stalls)

Myrtleford

Sunday, March 29

Alphington

Eltham

Flemington

South Geelong

Wednesday, April 1

Castlemaine (weekly)

CANCELLED MARKETS

Boroondara (Hawthorn)

Berwick (Old Cheese Factory)

Bendigo Thursday Market

University of Melbourne (Wednesdays)

Email [e-mail] to add a farmers’ market to the list.