Image Credit: CFJC Today/Adam Donnelly

By Adam Donnelly

REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY

Kamloops producers and purveyors keeping prepared during pandemic

Apr 2, 2020 | 5:26 PM

KAMLOOPS — While panic buying at the grocery stores has calmed down since the first days of the coronavirus pandemic, there are still lingering concerns about the supply chain. Luckily, there are producers and vendors in our region who are working hard to ensure we’ll have enough fresh produce to last once the warm weather begins.

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, farmers markets are not a high-risk setting for the transmission of COVID-19. That’s not stopping the Kamloops Farmers Market from taking a laundry list of precautions.

“We’re closing down the schoolyard,” Market Manager Greg Unger explains. “We’re closing down the entrance on Second Avenue so people can only enter from one entryway. We’re going to have a volunteer or staff member there, and then when we reach 50 people, we’ll make people queue up and wait. We’re going to have a hand-washing station at the entrance; we’re going to have pylons [set up] in a way to encourage people to respects each other’s space.”

The local market was going to begin April 18th, but that date isn’t set in stone. While we’re still a few months from peak growing season in our region, organizers from the local farmers market have made it a priority to ensure local farmers have a place to sell their produce.

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“A lot of them, they’re just keeping on going,” Unger says. “They’re planting their crops right now. The cold weather we’re having right now is a bit tricky, but it happens.”

The Farm2Chefs Collective is a group of Kamloops chefs who began with the goal of connecting local farmers with cooks to highlight regional produce. Their president sees an opportunity for citizens of the region to connect with local producers during this uncertain time.

“If you went up to Chop N Block and made that decision and that choice on how to spend those hard-earned dollars, that are maybe a little bit tight right now, that really goes a long way,” Jared Summers explains. “Brody will be there, and he’ll tell you exactly where he got this protein from, and maybe how else you can get it.”

The Chop N Block is one of many local businesses that have pivoted to help ensure their customers can get what they need during this crisis.

“Obviously, people need to stay home,” Chop N Block owner Brody White says. “We’re trying to come to people’s homes and get the food to them.”

To help with that, White uses the shop’s brand new refrigerated delivery van. He realizes it’s not a perfect solution at this time, but he and his staff are working hard to make sure their customers are taken care of.

“There are some health concerns on the customer side and on the staff side, too,” White says. “We’re tight quarters in the back, and they deserve to have their space and be safe while they’re at work. We’re trying to figure that out, along with increased demand at the same time. So when we need more star, we can’t really put more bodies in the building.”

Unger and the rest of the farmer’s market board are planning on setting a date for the first market of the year. Until then, they’re working on bringing the products directly to consumers, via the farmer’s market website thanks to a grant from the province.

“We’ll be offering curbside pickup for food, and direct-to-customer delivery for our crafters,” Unger says.

Now, unfortunately, those craft sellers won’t be part of the farmers market when it does open up. As part of the BC CDC’s recommendations, the markets will be food-only vendors, with no sampling. As the Kamloops Farmers Market puts it: “Shop, don’t stop.”