The Ladner Village Market returns on July 12, but when it opens for its 24th season, it will look and feel much different than in year’s past.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, market managers have had to come up with a whole new plan on how the market operates and serves the public.
After receiving approvals from the City of Delta and following the guidelines set out by the BCCDC, the market will operate as an essential food only market.
“The decision to proceed with Ladner Village Markets in 2020, during this COVID-19 pandemic, has first and foremost been about supporting our local farmers and food producer livelihoods in these unprecedented times and about providing access to our community members for local produce and foods,” said Jill McKnight, one of the market managers.
She said this year, the market will have a much different vibe than in the past.
The market will be completely fenced with one entrance at the corner of Delta St. and 48th Ave. There will be ample area to queue prior to entering and there will be a controlled number of people allowed in the market, at any given time, to allow proper physical/social distancing. The market will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the last entry into the market at 2:50 p.m.
Attendees are asked to limit the number of people attending from their family to one or two, to minimize the wait times for entry.
Total attendees in the market area, which will include customers, vendors, volunteers and staff will be 465 people, so that means approximately 304 customers allowed into the fenced market area, while an additional 150 people can be accommodated in two queuing areas with four inch circles on the street, six feet apart. As customers move through the market and exit, volunteers will then let in small groups from the holding area into the market.
McKnight said people will move through the market and exit in one direction only. Consumers will be asked to follow the ‘shop do not stop’ theme found in all farmers’ markets this year. There will be volunteers throughout the market to ensure that traffic flow and proper distancing guidelines are followed.
There will be multiple hand washing/sanitizing stations throughout the market and attendees will be asked to use them regularly. Masks will not be required to be worn in the market area, but those wishing to wear them will not be discouraged.
No food consumption will be allowed in the market, so any delectable foods purchased will have to be consumed outside the market gates.
There will be food trucks located at the exit area onto 47A near Elliott St., with their food products offered in take-away containers.
Vendors will be limited to between 65 and 68 (in years past more than 160 have been on site) and will be taking necessary precautions within their booths to ensure hygiene.
Customers will be asked to follow all instructions and signage throughout the market to ensure that health and safety for all is adhered too. As well, customers will be encouraged to use cashless, no contact payment methods.
No dogs will be allowed into the market with the exception of Certified Service Dogs. This is a direct request from the City of Delta and the Ladner Village Market.
Entertainment, buskers, non-profit vendors and tables have been removed from the market space to reduce the opportunity for socialization or loitering. This will allow more physical space for walking traffic.
Besides July 12, markets will run July 26, Aug. 9 and 23 and Sept. 13.
Items on hand at the markets this year will include fruits and vegetables, bread and ready-made food products such as chocolates, meats and cheeses and seafood.
“We want to ensure that our community has access to all this local product,” said McKnight. “This is not the market that we all know and love…this is a very different experience, and that’s okay, but it’s not going to be what people are thinking when they compare it to previous years.”
McKnight said vendors have all been very supportive of the new market plan.
“I think everybody recognizes the importance of farmers’ markets in the access to food and the economy so they are saying we will follow the rules because this is how we can continue to do this,” she said. “At the end of the day our number one driver has been supporting our farmers and giving our community access to these products. This is a farming community and we need to support our farmers.
“This will be a big change and it will be an adjustment and we will learn, change and adapt as we go along this summer.”
For more information, please visit ladnervillagemarket.com.
