Local Produce is essential to the community in COVID-19 crisis

GWFN President Deb McLucas said the market provides an outlet for farmers to sell direct to the public and as a food organisation they have a commitment to ensuring the supply chain is kept as safe as possible and available to the community through the current crisis.

The organisation is listed on the Australian Farmers’ Market Association (AFMA) website and has taken a range of measures to ensure safety of stallholders and the public. Ms McLucas acknowledged AFMA for providing helpful information to assist public safety provisions. She also thanked stallholders and customers for abiding by the new social distancing rules when attending the market.

“Customers and stallholders have jumped on board with social distancing and hygiene measures such as washing of hands. On behalf of all our farmers we are very thankful for the community support in this uncertain time.” Ms McLucas said.

GWFN have been reviewing updates from both Federal and State Governments on a daily basis along with the AFMA Fact Sheet.

“We are hearing mis-communication within community about farmers’ markets operating, however the Government advice continues to be that food and farmers’ markets are classified as an essential service and may continue to trade mindful of all other public health recommendations,” Ms McLucas said.

It is at times like this that we stand up for our farmers and are proud that we have an accredited farmers’ market framework that is based around supporting local growers.” Ms McLucas said.

Ms McLucas said that as a group they have had to implement a number of risk management strategies to enable the market to operate throughout the COVID-19 crisis, which have added to the costs of running the market. These are costs that GWFN believe should not be borne by farmers, since they are providing a much-needed essential service to the community.

GWFN is able to manage these extra costs with the support of funding partners including Mackay Regional Council, Mackay City Centre, the Local Buying Foundation and the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Community Development Program. The support of these organisations has enabled GWFN to continue in the space over the past four years and even more so throughout this current crisis.

“We have worked with Mackay Regional Council since our establishment in 2016 and continue to receive support for the work we do in providing a space for local growers to sell direct to the public.” Ms McLucas said.

Mayor Greg Williamson, who is also chair of the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG), has been a passionate supporter of the local food movement and the diversity of what the region produces.