Enthusiastic return for outdoor Vernon Farmers Market

Apr 15, 2021 | 11:54 AM

Following a long, tough winter, especially for craft exhibitors, it was sunshine and happiness as the Vernon Farmers Market returned to the parking lot of Kal Tire Place North.

(Vernon Matters/YouTube)

There were 56 vendors registered for today’s market, about two-thirds were selling food, including a number of food trucks.

Crafters that were banned from indoor markets over the winter, as a result of public health orders, were well represented. As a result of a lot of lobbying, the order was lifted in late March, but it was too late to salvage the season for many craft vendors.

Clothing vendor Lesley Lantenhammer told Vernon Matters it was a difficult year without Christmas sales and big events like ‘Shoparama’ and ‘Creative Chaos.’

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Mama’s owner Lesley Lantenhammer is excited to be back at the market. (Vernon Matters/YouTube)

There can only be 200 people on the site at any given time, and there are additional safety and sanitation procedures in place.

Amanda Fallis, the market coordinator, said they follow retail occupancy requirements to determine how many people can be on site.

“We calculate the market’s footprint each market (size changes day to day with number of vendors). We then do the physical distancing calculation. That would be our allowable number, but the number we post at the door is only 80 per cent of that, 20 per cent is taken off to account for if we have people sneaking in under the tape or not through an entrance.
Today (Thursday) was actually 259, 207 being 80 per cent. We posted 200 at the door. As the market grows with more vendors returning, so will the daily occupancy amount,” Fallis told Vernon Matters.

The market will be open Monday’s and Thursday’s from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., from now until October 28, dependent on public health orders.

The Lumby Farmers Market returns May 8 at Oval Park, and will be held every Saturday until Thanksgiving.

Armstrong’s market at the IPE grounds will start April 24.

The Enderby Farmers Market begins May 7, and runs every Friday (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) until Oct. 22 outside the Splatsin Community Centre.

by Kevin Rothwell

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