(photo/Vernon Farmers Market Facebook)

By Kevin Rothwell

Food and beverage only

Farmers’ market vendors frustrated with confusing health orders

Jan 6, 2021 | 3:35 PM

The Vernon Farmers’ Market (VFM) is returning this Friday (Jan. 8) with a smaller indoor market after several weeks of trying to get clarification on public health orders related to markets.

Changing orders and the interpretation of those, has resulted in a lot of frustration for B.C. market vendors.

“Just getting this thing going was a two-month process. We were getting wishy washy responses. It was a bit of a struggle and frustration,” Amanda Fallis, VFM interim manager, said.

While declaring farmers’ markets an essential service in the current PHO, the province has restricted markets to food and beverage vendors only, something that organizers are still looking for reasoning on.

“We haven’t got any answers from the province. I know the Kelowna manager has written several letters to Dr. Bonnie Henry and different agencies. We haven’t got anything as to why our crafters were cut,” Fallis said.

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December markets featuring just food and beverage vendors had 20 to 23 stalls. Friday’s market will feature 12 vendors.

“We’re still having a good variety and selection. We will have one wine guy and the rest are food,” Fallis said.

The Kelowna Indoor Farmers’ Market at the Parkinson Recreation Centre is on hiatus for January, according to president Dave Price.

“We don’t have our crafters who help get us through the season, but we’re defiantly not closed for the season. If the protocols change, we will get back to Parkinson as soon as we can. But for food essentials, our food vendors are up at the Red Barn which is Okanagan Mission Community Hall (4409 Lakeshore Road in Kelowna) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. And hopefully that’s just for January,” Price told Vernon Matters. (updated)

In some jurisdictions, big box stores that sell both food and general merchandise were limited to just selling essential items.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has been lobbying federal and provincial governments to make sure there is a level playing field for small business versus big box retail stores.

“Fifty per cent of our vendors are crafters and an incredibly important part of the draw,” Rachelle Zelaney, President of VFM, told Vernon Matters.

The B.C. Association of Farmers’ Markets continues to engage with the province to allow crafters to return to markets under COVID-19 protocols.

The market will run this Friday January 8 through March 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“The province has done very little to negate the safety perception of farmers’ markets,” Fallis said. “This will be a very safe place to shop and we hope people will come out and support our food and beverage vendors.”

The Friday market will have hand sanitizer available, staff at the door with face masks, booths will be spread out on the concourse of the arena, with one way traffic and social distancing protocols. A full COVID protection protocol was developed in conjunction with Greater Vernon Parks and Recreation.

For information on the VFM COVID-19 plan, click here.