NEW MARKET RULES
The Saskatoon Farmers’ Market has implemented strict new rules for shoppers as it reopens on Saturday. Adi Ramachandran, president of the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market Co-operative Ltd., spoke with Erin Petrow of the Starphoenix to break down how the pandemic
1 Limiting cash Make sure to have a debit or credit card handy when heading to the market, as handling cash was one of the biggest issues vendors brought up in discussions of what reopening the market would look like, Ramachandran said.
Though cash will still be accepted, the market is trying to encourage customers to use a contactless payment method if possible.
2 Maintain distance Another important issue raised by vendors was making sure the market would be able to guarantee social distancing between vendors and customers, Ramachandran said. To ensure this, walkways will be one-way and vendors will be physically distanced from each other. Customers will also be expected to maintain a safe physical distance when purchasing from a vendor.
To ensure things can’t get too crowded, there will also be a limit of around 50 customers in the building at any time.
3 No touching Ramachandran said one of the biggest changes is that customers will not be allowed to handle any of the products before purchasing. Hand sanitizer will be available upon entry and at each stall, but the no-touch rule is meant to negate the risk of cross-contamination.
“Customers will tell vendors what they want and then it will be packaged and placed for the customer to pick up,” he said. Testing produce by touch “is very much part of the customer experience of shopping at the market, but I think everyone understands that these are special circumstances.”
4 Eating and drinking prohibited Any food you might purchase at the Farmers’ Market will have to be consumed off the premises; the market will no longer allow customers to eat inside the building.
Unfortunately, this rule also includes any samples that might have previously been offered by vendors. However, the market will also no longer allow buskers and other entertainers, so it will make less sense to snack while shopping anyway.
5 Expect to be told the rules People will be present at the entry and exit of the market to ensure everyone understands the guidelines.
“I think the first week will be a learning curve,” Ramachandran said. “Safety is the No. 1 priority for us and the customers, and we will do everything to make sure that it’s a safe grocery-shopping experience for them.”