Penticton Farmers' Market reopens on Saturday

It’s official. The Penticton Farmers' Market will be back in business for the 2020 season as of this Saturday.

The market in the 100 block of Main Street will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 30, but it won’t look like it as in past years.

“We are excited to be back, but restrictions are in place to ensure that customers treat our market more like a grocery store than a place to socialize,” market manager Katherine Harris says in a media release.

Operating changes will include taping of the market perimeter and restricting those within to a maximum of 50 at a time, using a single entry point at Main Street and Lakeshore Drive.

There will be hand sanitizer and hand washing facilities on site as well.

“Customers will be expected to follow similar rules to what is currently in place at grocery stores,” Harris says.

Signage reminding customers of the need to maintain physical distancing will be distributed throughout the market, and consumption of food or drink will not be permitted.

Re-useable bags are allowed but customers must pack their own purchases in them.

The number of vendors has also been reduced to 45 from 80 prior to COVID-19 restrictions.