With many markets making the move to cancel rather than run the gauntlet of making market goers compliant, the Byron Farmer’s Market organisers say the event will be going ahead on Thursday as well as the Bangalow Farmer’s Market on Saturday – with a few changes in place.
Both markets will be proceeding with a ‘no mask, no entry’ policy. There will be security guards in place to monitor both mask compliance and check-in procedures (with both QR code and manual check-in available).
Organisers are also asking that, in line with NSW Health lockdown regulations, only one person per household attend. On top of that, there will be COVID-19 marshalls patrolling throughout the market to ensure people are social distancing.
There will be no seating provided at the markets and all food will be sold only as takeaway.
Both markets will be cordoned off so that there are only two entry/exit points to facilitate all of the arrangements.
Organisers say they understand that there may be some people in our community who may not be willing to comply with these safety measures. They are asking them to please respect that these measures are to ensure we abide by NSW Health regulations and keep our farmers’ markets open.
Ultimately, these measures are in place to provide a safe shopping environment for customers, stallholders and the community as a whole.
Organisers kindly ask that those not willing to abide by the regulations, please not attend the market.
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Good news. I have run out of energy reporting businesses that don’t enforce the ‘no mask’ laws. Today in Aldi, Byron Bay, the only person on check-out duty wasn’t wearing a mask. She did have a badge that claimed she had an exemption but it looked like it came out of a Cornflakes packet. Meanwhile, at Herbal Wisdom in Bangalow, two staff and one customer were not wearing masks when my husband entered the shop the other day (during lockdown). That is the last time we will be shopping there while this rule applies.
Thank goodness for Santos and the farmers’ markets!
Why are these markets still on, with Delta about?
Why not shop online at Woolies or Coles for two weeks and get your groceries home delivered? It won’t hurt you. Sure, it’s not as cool, sustainable and trendy, but it makes good health sense.
And yes, the local growers will be out of pocket for a short while; but better this than being out of pocket for months if we have to extend and harden our local lockdown due to an escalating outbreak.
Meanwhile, the growers could donate their excess produce to a food bank/ larder to be distributed to those in greatest need.
Good call!