At this time…

We take growing food and feeding our community very seriously.  We love doing it, but for all of us at the Co-Op one of the big reasons we got into farming is because we believe that the industrial and global food system is extremely fragile and when something like the coronavirus happens, we can start to see the truth of that. 
 
We take the health, safety and wellbeing of our community and ourselves seriously and through this ever-evolving situation we are doing everything we can to both continue to feed you and stay healthy ourselves. Every week, from produce grown on our farm, we feed well over 200 local households. If we get sick, those people don’t get our produce.
 
We are taking more stringent health and safety precautions both on farm and at market (and everywhere in between) to make sure our produce gets to you clean and safe. We will be trying out a new system at the markets this week. It will be a little slower, but it’s the best we can come up with at this point. 
 
The current advice from government is that farmers markets are exempt from the ‘no gatherings of over 500 people’ rule as outdoor food markets are a vital part of keeping communities fed and healthy. Our weekly market doesn’t have 500 people in attendance at any one time any way, but we’re still being careful. 
 
We will continue to adapt our systems, as we need to. But for this week this is how the market will look at our stall:
 

  • We will have a ‘number’ system (Deli style) to prevent people having to cue.
  • We will call out your number and personally serve you so that only our sanitized hands touch your produce.
  • Please bring a basket, bag or box to carry your produce home in.
  • We are encouraging everyone to pay by card where possible as handling cash can be unhygienic.
  • We will be sanitizing our hands frequently throughout the market.
  • Please make sure you also wash all produce before you eat it. 

 
If you aren’t able to make it to the market or farm pick ups because you are self isolating, please get in contact. We will deliver if needs be, though it is definitely not our preference.  
 
If you are unwell or have been around anyone who is unwell, please don’t come to the market. Get in touch and we can work out an alternative so you can still get produce. We need to stay well so we can keep feeding the people!
 
It can be easy to let fear and paranoia take over. We are doing our very best to take a measured, clear and preventative approach to feeding the community.
 
Stay healthy and well, care for each other and don’t forget to check on your neighbors and friends. In these times of increased ‘social isolation’ lets all find ways to stay connected and strong.

The Harcourt Organic Farming Co-op team (Sas, Mel, Tess, Ant, Katie, Hugh and Merv)


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