Collingwood’s farmers’ market could reopen this month, but like so many things in 2020, it’s going to be different.
Sue Nicholson, general manager of the Collingwood Downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA), told council earlier this month the market could be open by the end of June.
“We’re working through the logistics of bringing the market back to its location in the [Pine Street] parking lot,” said Nicholson. “It will involve fencing, controlled access, and social distancing. It will be a very different market.”
This spring the BIA announced the market opening would be delayed and could possibly not open this year at all.
However, the BIA has been working with the town to figure out a way to operate the market in a safe way that also meets the guidelines established by both the province and the region’s health unit.
“I think we should call it an outdoor grocery store, because that’s exactly what it will be,” said Nicholson. “It won’t be a social gathering place, it will be producers, sellers of food, baked goods … that’s the only thing that will be allowed.”
This spring local businesses established a Collingwood Food Trail, which includes several storefront locations offering pick up spots for farmers’ market vendors. The trail originally used an e-commerce pre-order system requiring customers to place an order in advance and pick it up on Saturdays at the designated location along the Collingwood Food Trail. It has since expanded with more physical locations, offering both pre-order and in-person shopping every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can find more on the vendors and locations on the Collingwood Food Trail Facebook page.
The Thornbury market also opened up with a similar system in place asking customers to pre-order from vendors and pick up their purchases on market day (Sunday).
Nicholson said the plan for Collingwood’s market, once it opens, is a bit of both.
“It will be a bit of a hybrid model with pre-orders for early morning pickup,” said Nicholson. “We really want to stress, it’s going to be a very different market.”
There is no opening date set for the Collingwood Farmers’ Market, Nicholson just said the BIA hopes to get it running sometime in June.
Penny Skelton, chair of the BIA board, also presented to council at the Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting on June 3.
She noted the BIA’s plans to have board members and business owners who volunteered their time to do some planting downtown. The planting occurred this week.
There’s also a plan in the works to buy a street vacuum to keep the downtown cleaner this year.
“What we’re trying to do is really make the downtown look beautiful this year,” said Skelton.
The BIA also plans to order new banners that say “welcome” for the light posts downtown.
“We’ve shifted gears as far as activity and what we can do,” said Skelton. “We’re looking at investing our money in a new way.”
And since events are out the window right now, the BIA is banking on a good Christmas.
“We are putting a major investment in our Christmas decor this year,” said Skelton. “We figure that might be the first real shot at having people downtown to shop and celebrate the season.”
The BIA is funded through a levy paid by all businesses within the Collingwood downtown membership area. You can see a copy of the 2020 BIA budget here.
