The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Boost for business as Perth Farmers’ Market gets back into action
SOUTH INCH: Stalls set up at temporary home in car park for social distancing
Scores of traders returned to Perth on Saturday as the Fair City’s first farmers’ market since February was held.
Around 40 stallholders flocked to a temporary new home of the South Inch car park at 9am, keen to get back to business.
And business owners were supported by customers who made their way in droves to only the second Saturday fixture of 2020.
The market has been a city centre staple for decades, being held on the first Saturday of the month on King Edward Street. But lockdown measures stopped rural businesses’ trading opportunities and stallholders have been unable to set up shop at the market for six months.
Now that restrictions are being lifted, traders from across Courier Country were able to set up again, albeit with different surroundings.
Perth and Kinross Council has allowed organisers to use the Shore Road car park this month to make social distancing easier, a move which has pros and cons.
Market manager Adeline Watson said: “We’ve been desperate to get back out and make the market happen again. Traders have been itching to get back too. The council has been kind and given us the car park to use. It has space for 40 people spread out, and we usually have between 40 and 50 anyway. Whether we can stay will depend on the rules,
“We’ve been desperate to get back out and make the market happen again. MARKET MANAGER ADELINE WATSON
but I suspect we might. It’s a great site, it’s level and there’s none of the street furniture we usually need to juggle around. There’s maybe not the same footfall though, but we’re hoping for a steady flow of customers.”
And customers did make their way to the new venue, making the most of the wares on offer and fine weather. In attendance was city centre councillor Peter Barrett, who said: “It’s great to have the farmers’ market back – we’ve really missed it.
“Having it at the South Inch car park was different and I hope it was good for the stallholders. We were down first thing to beat the queues. There was a great selection with about 40 stalls and since Friday was payday and because there hadn’t been a market for ages, we went a bit mad.”