Farmers Market set to return

THE Ballarat Farmers Market unveiled its plans to re-open on Saturday, 11 July.

After a four-month absence following a blanket ban by the City of Ballarat on all activities on council land, the community hub will be back.

It’ll be once again operating on the second Saturday of every month from 9am to 1pm, now in a slightly different location.

The Market has moved from the lakeside Moneghetti Track across the road to the North Gardens on Zoo Drive where visitors will find the stalls in a more spacious and COVID safe spot.

Ballarat Farmers Market manager, Steve Burns, said that the new location offers a much safer environment where stalls can be spaced out.

“Customers can adhere to social distancing while still enjoying the market,” said Mr Burns.

Protocols will be put in place to ensure both the safety of stallholders and market-goers.

Such procedures include minimising the handling of products, promoting cashless trading, restricting samples and allowing only one customer per server at each stall.

To prevent people congregating in areas, both the raffle and busking have been suspended.

“The social distancing aspects of it will be far more rigorous that have been in place in a lot of other environments,” Mr Burns said.

Over 5000 people have joined the Facebook group We Love Ballarat Regional Produce calling for their return.

Mr Burns said that the group had also been connecting shoppers with stallholders during the pandemic.

“We particularly try to seek out local products, it’s a boost to the local economy in more ways than one,” said Mr Burns.

The Farmers Market Manager said that shopping in an open-air environment would be just what community members are after.

“I really want the customers to come along and feel okay, we’re taking it seriously and doing the right thing,” said Mr Burns.

“It’s important that people feel at ease, feel comfortable and feel happy to be going out and having access to farm produce.”