Things are going to look a little different at the Meaford Farmers' Market this year.
Given the pandemic, accompanying public health guidelines and restrictions in place by the Ontario government, the Meaford Farmers' Market will be converting to a pick-up format in 2020.
In a release, the Farmers' Market says it has been designed to accommodate all vendors and customers.
A new website has launched — www.meafordfarmersmarket.ca — where customers can contact vendors to talk about products, place orders and make payments.
The website will provide all information about each vendor's products and an explanation of their businesses.
A $1,000 grant from the Blue Mountain Village Association Accelerate Spring Grant program was used to fund the development of the new web-based service.
A pick-up will be held at the Market Square every Friday moving forward from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. for those who make purchases through the online platform.
“Volunteers from the Market Board and the community will be receiving orders from our vendors and then distributing them to the customers,” a release from the Meaford Farmers' Market explains. “Volunteers will be using sanitation techniques to clean frequently touched areas. Customers will be expected to maintain physical distancing of six feet while in line. Drive up orders will be accepted as well.”
A spokesperson for the Meaford Farmers' Market says it's their goal to provide the community with an opportunity to continue the market despite such unprecedented times.