Despite selling essential goods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, lockdown restrictions in the ACT and NSW have forced Canberra’s iconic Capital Region Farmers Market (CRFM) at EPIC and the Southside Farmers Market at Phillip to close this weekend.
But organisers are keen for shoppers to continue supporting stallholders and local producers wherever possible.
The Rotary Club of Hall, which runs the CRFM, confirmed yesterday that the market will not operate this Saturday 21 August.
In a media statement, the club said the decision is based on the increased numbers of community transmission of Covid-19 in the ACT announced in recent days, along with increased Covid-19 restrictions in both NSW and the ACT affecting farmers, producers and their transport of goods.
“Safety is the market’s number one priority, and the market wishes to ensure the ongoing safety of the Canberra community, stallholders and volunteers to help reduce the risk of transmission,” the statement continued.
This also supports the ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr’s message for Canberrans to stay at home.
“The Market would like to thank shoppers for supporting stallholders during this difficult time.
“If locals are keen to still support their favourite stallholder, they are encouraged to keep an eye out on the Market’s social media for stallholder notices on how they may be able to access home delivery or special offers.
“They can also check directly on stallholder profile pages on the Capital Region Farmers Market website, as well as individual stallholders’ social media channels.”
As for when the Market will reopen, organisers will reassess the situation early next week with regards to resuming on Saturday 28 August.
The Southside Farmers Market at Canberra College in Phillip, which attracts a number of the same stallholders as the EPIC markets and is usually held on Sundays, did not operate last Sunday 15 August.
A Facebook post by the market earlier this week was hopeful they would be open this Sunday 22 August, however, a post this morning advised there would be no market again this weekend.
“The increasing lockdown situation has guided our decision. Please keep an eye on our social pages for daily updates about next week and any stalls that you can buy directly from in ACT or online,” the post continued.
