Farmers’ markets adjust as customers return
Weekend outings at the local farmers' market are back on, with most in Atlantic Canada welcoming customers for an in-person shopping experience.
But concerns over COVID19 are keeping many away, even though businesses have taken steps to ensure a safe shopping environment.
Market representatives who spoke with Saltwire Network this week all said the same thing — foot traffic is down. That means the vendors are ultimately operating with an expectation they'll earn less revenue. It's a reality for most businesses these days in the COVID-19 world.
"It's been difficult," said Bernie Plourde, manager of the Charlottetown Farmers' Market Co-op. "I think that the markets on the Island are running at a quarter of the revenues that they usually do, so hopefully we're just running at recovering our costs."
The Charlottetown Farmers’ Market Co-op reopened July 4 and has about 40 vendors out of the usual 60 selling goods in its 1.9-acre parking lot. The market accommodates 100 customers at a time to allow for physical distancing. Approximately 700 people showed up the first Saturday and little over 1,100 on July 11.
"We're not seeing the amount of traffic that we would normally see inside our market," Plourde said. "This time of year, we usually have 2,500 to 3,000 people coming through the market."
He does appreciate the support locals have shown so far. Typically, seasonal cottage owners from outside Prince Edward Island and tourists would also purchase fruits, vegetables, meat and other goods at the market, particularly in July and August.
COMING BACK
The Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market and St. John's Farmers' Market were also closed to the public for about three months. The latter reopened June 13, while the Halifax market resumed its usually-busy Saturday market outdoors June 27. The first indoor Saturday market with produce vendors was held July 4. Permanent indoor vendors resumed operations in mid-june.
"We have seen lots of people coming out, and it has been increasing every week so far," said Pam Anstey, executive director of the St. John's Farmers' Market. "People are still a little bit hesitant, and we're certainly not up to the numbers we were last year this time ... Vendors have been telling us people that are there are purchasing and are very interested in what they're doing."
The St. John's market can accommodate about 40 vendors indoors with physical distancing in place. It expected to have about 50 for the upcoming weekend, including outdoor vendors.
Lane Farguson, manager of communications and media relations for the Halifax Port Authority (owner of the market property), said the Seaport Farmers' Market usually has over 200 vendors when it's operating at peak levels. It's been nowhere near that of late, though activity is ramping up. Grocery vendors selling sauces, pre-packaged snacks and other meal-enhancing items were due to return for the July 18 Saturday market. Usually a seven-day operation, it's now closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Currently, the market can only accommodate 150 customers at a time, a far cry from its usual capacity. Vendors are also moved further apart from each other.
"On a normal year, especially on a Saturday ... we would be wall-to-wall vendors and people shoulder-toshoulder," Farguson said. "It's as much about the experience as the products being sold.
People love that market, and it's just not possible during this time right now."
Farguson acknowledges many of the market's guests from outside Nova Scotia, such as tourists and cruise ship travellers, will be missed this summer.
"There's no question, it's having an impact on the vendors and the market," he said.
ONLINE SALES
While the markets were closed, many vendors took advantage of online opportunities to sell their goods. The Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market set up a distribution system whereby people who ordered goods from vendors by a certain date could subsequently pick them up at designated shipping containers located outside the market. Anstey said a number of her market's vendors took advantage of contactless pickup, with some continuing to do business this way and electing not to return to the physical market for the time being.
The Charlottetown Farmers'
Market Co-op set up its own online ordering website for its vendors and will maintain that service for the time being.
"We found that a lot of the folks who are buying from us at the moment are people who want to support local, but they don't like the hustle and bustle in the market," Plourde said. "That's actually created an opportunity for us to access a market that we didn't have prior."
He added it makes sense to maintain an online presence for purchasing given the uncertainty surrounding the virus and the potential setback of a second wave.
The Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market continues to ramp up activity in phases and hopes to bring back its artisanal craft and prepared food vendors in the coming weeks, according to Farguson. The lack of cruise ships has also allowed the Halifax Port Authority to create a new attraction to the seaport area. With the co-operation of Transport Canada, the Cruise Seawall is now open to the public. It's also looking at opening the rooftop of the market building to the public for all days excluding Saturday.
The St. John's market was planning to move some seats and tables for customers back inside its building this weekend, as Anstey suggested people were missing the social aspect of sitting down with friends at the market. As a new feature, it will also launch a pop-up brunch starting Sunday, July 26.
"We are hoping to be able to move towards a little more of at least the feel of the market as it always has been, as opposed to the super strict, almost clinical kind of way of doing it," she said, noting the market will remain vigilant when it comes to taking safety precautions.