Instead of an open market where customers can mill around, there will be one entry point, one direction for people to walk and pylons set out at each vendor.
“I just today (May 7) purchased 75 pylons, and we're just going to try and set up a course either drawing on the pavement or whatever and put a pylon in front of each vendor so that if there’s somebody at the vendor's stand or table that you wait at the pylon,” she explained. “We’re going to try and get the people moving on the inside of the circle.”
Only one family member will be allowed entry into the market and McDermid noted there will be no public washroom available on site because of the provincial restrictions. Vendors will also be enforcing distancing among the booths.
“We thought we'd start just to see our spacing down there and how we manage the traffic flow,” McDermid said. “We thought if we start out with a limited number (of vendors) then maybe we can space better and get the people moving.”
While the Alberta Government has said all vendors can take part, the Athabasca Farmers’ Market executive has decided to keep it to food and botanical vendors for at least the first event.
McDermid added that while they are limiting vendors, she still hopes to get 15-20 where they normally get around 24.
After the market is done that day, the vendors will meet to discuss how successful it was and if any changes need to be made.
“We're planning to have a tailgate meeting at the end to assess how things went; see what we have to do to improve or if we can expand,” McDermid added.
Heather Stocking, TownandCountryToday.com
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