Last minute backflip on farmers’ market hurts confused producers
A Victorian Government last minute backflip on the cancellation of farmers’ markets in stage four areas on Friday night saw some producers lose out on their weekly income.
FARMERS across Victoria are counting losses this week after the State Government made a shock move on Friday to ban farmers’ markets in Stage 4 lockdown areas, then reversed it in a late-night backflip.
Free-range egg producer Will Rankin, of Bass Coast, was due to sell at Coburg market, and was shocked to receive news of the cancellation at 6pm on Friday.
He unpacked 40 per cent of his eggs, sending the remainder with his sister to Melbourne in hopes city greengrocers would take them. When markets were reinstated after 8pm, it was too late for his small business.
“I spent Saturday driving around my Bass Coast area, delivering to pubs, homes and cafes; anyone who would take some extra.,” Mr Rankin said.
“If markets had been indefinitely closed … I was staring at the decision to have to lay off my casual workforce.”
Free-range egg producers Kelvin and Kumi Slade of Willow Glen, in Gippsland, lost about 50 per cent of their weekend’s projected trading.
Mr Slade was due to trade at Bentleigh market, which did not run due to the late backflip.
“It was still a loss, but not as much of a loss,” said Mr Slade, who was already on the road to Melbourne when the cancellation was announced. He sold informally with several other Bentleigh traders on Saturday, shifting half his normal volume.
“Primary production is already hard enough. To make a decision like that, without consultation, and without any scientific basis, is even worse,” he said.
Tash and Wayne Shields of Peninsula Organics at Baxter lost half their harvested vegetables due to not being able to trade at Bentleigh, one of their two scheduled markets.
“I’d say it would be several thousand dollars worth,” Ms Shields said. “The only good thing coming is that Bentleigh is rescheduling, but the produce won’t keep for a week and I wouldn’t sell it a week old either.”
A government spokesman said concerns had been raised about density requirements, but the Chief Health Officer and Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes confirmed farmers’ markets could continue for takeaway purchases.
Biodynamic vegetable grower Mark Rathbone sells all his harvest through farmers’ markets, and was disappointed with the way the sector had been treated.
“I was angry we had been looked upon as non-essential,” Mr Rathbone said.
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