ATHABASCA — The Athabasca Farmers’ Market has returned to the Rotary Fieldhouse at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex with COVID-19 precautions in place.
Yvonne McDermid, who manages the market, said they went back inside as of Oct. 24 with a new layout and enforcing rules for the vendors and the flow of traffic.
“We have protocol for our vendors; they are to either wear a mask or a shield, or have a distance barrier like a second table between them and the customer,” McDermid said.
While shoppers will not have to wear a mask, they are asked to adhere to following one direction through the venue and will enter and exit through different doors.
"We have a one-direction movement through the market and it worked out very well on Saturday (Oct. 24).” she said. “Everybody seemed really happy; had a lot of compliments about the organization of it.”
Instead of vendors being set up around the perimeter inside the Fieldhouse, the tables are set up in rows so shoppers will serpentine through once they enter.
“(Where) we had two rows facing each other, they were a certain distance apart, but we had pylons with (flagging) tape on it down the middle. So, when they come into the market, they had to walk by all the tables to get where they want,” said McDermid. “They had to snake through.”
Entry is now from the outside of the Fieldhouse itself. there are two sets of doors on the south wall, so patrons will not have to enter the Multiplex itself.
“They don't go into the Multiplex to come into the Farmers' Market,” she said. “We're using those doors on the south side; there's two doors on that one wall. So, one of them is an entry and the other is our exit. And I think too, it'll become more familiar in next market.; people will get used to that one-way traffic.”
The next Farmers’ Market is Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and you can follow their schedule on their webpage, https://www.athabascafarmersmarket.com/market-locations.
Heather Stocking, TownandCountryToday.com
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