The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit has clarified somewhat what is and isn’t permitted at the Cobourg Farmers’ Market.
During the opening of the Farmers Market at Rotary Harbourfront Park on May 8 and May 15 a number of people were asking questions about what is permitted and raised concerns about some of the activity.
Manager of the Farmers’ Market, Laura Berman told Today’s Northumberland they had a record number of people attending the second week of the market with some vendors selling out.
Even though only four of the vendors out of the 34 were selling non-essential items, people still voiced their concerns given other businesses a block away have to be shut down under Provincial regulations.
Today’s Northumberland reached out to the HKPR District Health Unit and Manager of Environmental Health, Richard Ovcharovich for clarification on a number of topics.
Ovcharovich confirmed the health unit did approve this years Farmers’ Market, along with “some non-food vendors were also approved to operate there as long as the Farmers’ Market as a whole was primarily occupied by vendors selling food.”
Ovcharovich said the Health Unit did receive a number of complaints concerning the Cobourg Farmers’ Market.
Public Health Inspectors are following up with the market organizers to investigate the concerns.
“We plan to remind organizers about the rules for farmers’ markets during COVID-19 and ensure they are operating within the regulations. This includes checking that only approved vendors that can set up at outdoor markets are doing so at the Cobourg site.“
Ovcharovich said the focus of any farmers’ market must be having vendors that primarily sell food to the public.
The presence of live music performers at the market is currently “under review and will be subject to a number of factors.”
“This includes whether the playing of live music will lead to people gathering together, which would be an issue. Other considerations relate to the type of instrument being played and what COVID-19 precautions are in place (for instance, mask use, presence of barrier, ensuring physical distancing between musician and market patrons).”
The Health Unit is following up with organizers of the Cobourg Farmers’ Market to review the full list of vendors.
“Businesses or services not on the approved list of vendors will not be permitted to set up at the market at this time. This includes Zumba dancing.”
Ovcharovich said they will be addressing the issue on the number of people at the Farmers’s Market but added, “the current regulations around Farmers’ Markets do not set out a capacity limit for outdoor events, as long as people attending it can maintain a 2-metre distance from others. Markets that primarily operate indoors are limited to 25% capacity.”
“The Health Unit would strongly recommend that masks be worn outdoors in situations where two-metre physical distance cannot be maintained. This may be good advice for anyone attending outdoor markets this summer.”
https://todaysnorthumberland.ca/2021/05/15/cobourg-farmers-market-draws-a-record-number-of-people/
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
