Goya Dmytryshchak
A wedding venue could become the site of Melbourne’s next Slow Food Melbourne Farmers’ Market amid the coronavirus crisis.
Happy Receptions at 199 Sunshine Road, Tottenham, has officially closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In February last year, after more than 11 years at Abbotsford Convent, the farmers’ market moved to Spotswood Kingsville RSL.
Slow Food Melbourne president Alison Peake has now applied to Maribyrnong council to open an additional market at the Tottentham reception centre.
As well as selling fresh produce and artisan products, the new market could offer local traders an opportunity to sell takeaway food, Ms Peake said.
“It’s very much … trying to support local businesses and local people.
“It’s just trying to keep everybody still in business to some extent.”
Under COVID-19 restrictions, shopper numbers would be limited to one per stall, plus up to two shoppers at 1.5 metre distance each waiting for service.
Planned hours of operation are 8am-1pm on the first and third Saturday of the month, with up to 40 stalls.
A range of COVID-19 measures would include cleaning facilities every 15 minutes and requiring stallholders to have their own wash stations and sanitiser.
While some markets have temporarily closed, Ms Peake said there was more demand than ever.
“With farming, the cows don’t stop producing milk and things still grow and they’ve still got all this produce that they need to get out there,“ she said.
WEDDING VENUE OWNER GIVES BLESSING TO MARKET PROPOSAL
Happy Receptions’ owner David Cheng said he supported holding a farmers’ market at the venue.
“We believe that as restrictions are gradually lifted, we will be one of the last businesses to reopen because our business is predominantly based on large gatherings,“ Mr Cheng said.
“Fortunately, before large gatherings were banned, we managed to raise funds exceeding $116,000, in alliance with the Asian community, to support the many Australians adversely affected by the bushfires. It was definitely a privilege for our reception centre to host many bushfire fundraiser functions.
“This year, many of us have faced unprecedented times with the bushfires and now facing the COVID-19 pandemic.“
Mr Cheng said he looked forward to the day that people could celebrate once more.
“Many weddings, functions, and celebrations have been cancelled or postponed and we therefore hope that a cure or vaccine can be rapidly developed so that we can have reason to celebrate again.
“We are happy to be working closely with Slow Food Melbourne as a farmers’ market will open up ample opportunities to the local community to more readily access fresh produce in these challenging times.“
