BIRTHDAY BASH STALLS, BUT MARKET PRESSES ON
FARM Gate Market’s 12th birthday bonanza wasn’t quite the celebration Madi Seeber-Peattie thought it would be.
Local producers were planning on holding a barbecue after their day’s work, but went back to basics in selling their weekly fare at the Covid-safe market in Bathurst St, Hobart on Sunday.
Ms Seeber-Peattie said staff and customers at the venue knew how to operate the essential service in a Covid-safe way, but there were a few changes this time around.
“It reverts to the one person per two square metre density limits and of course we’re all supposed to be physically distancing, but it’s all masked up now, which we’ve never had to do before,” Ms SeeberPeattie said.
“It is a good turnout; we haven’t had to ask anyone to wear a mask.”
The organiser said the market’s click and collect system was ready to kick back into gear if southern Tasmania’s lockdown continued.
Fergus Brown made the trip from Launceston to run his Mr Brown & Towns Mushroom Garden stall.
“In a scenario like this I’ve got 100kg of mushrooms on my hands that will go to waste if I can’t get them into anyone’s mouths,” Mr Brown said.
“It’s definitely important to have an outlet to sell them, and even more so for people to get out of the house, have a sense of community and get some good healthy food.”
Mr Brown looked forward to celebrating the market’s 12th birthday milestone at a barbecue with other producers once restrictions eased once more.