The outdoor Kamloops Farmers Market start for the season tomorrow in what will be year two of operating during a pandemic.

Kamloops councillor Dieter Dudy, who owns Thistle Farms in Westsyde, says it will be much of the same as last year when it comes to COVID-19 safety protocols.

“We’re going to have controlled entrances again. All the food vendors are able to go, and [Agriculture] Minister Lana Popham also has allowed non-food vendors to be able to attend the market this year right off the bat. As opposed to last year where they had to wait a while.”

“All the vendors will be wearing masks and all the proper protocols will be followed. But again, much the same as last year, hopefully everybody will want to attend and support their local purveyors of food and crafts and we can move forward.”

A change from last year is that masks will be mandatory for all customers as well within the outdoor market area. People who cannot wear a mask or those who do not want to enter the market area can buy products online and arrange for curbside pickup.

Interior Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Albert de Villiers, says farmers markets should be safe for everyone as long as people follow all safety guidelines in place.

“Its when people start breaking the rules and people start congregating outside or congregating in the parking lot where we sometimes see issues so if people follow the rules, I think we’ll be good,” he said.

De Villiers says Farmers Markets have to have approved COVID-19 safety plans in place before they’re allowed to open for the season.

“No place will be open that hasn’t been screened and that hasn’t submitted a plan,” he added. “If there is something like that we do have enforcement that will be able to get on that and make sure they stick to the rules.”

Dudy says foot traffic at the downtown markets was essentially down about half last year because of the pandemic. However, he says people who were there regularly were not there to socialize, leading to his sales going only down about 15 per cent.

The Saturday Farmers Market goes from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the 200-block of St. Paul Street, starting tomorrow until Oct. 30. Meanwhile, the Wednesday Farmers Market will start on May 5 and run until Oct. 27, in the 400-block of Victoria Street, operating between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m..

There will be a limit of 100 people allowed into the market area at any given time.

(Editor’s Note: The photo used in this story is a file photo taken before the COVID-19 pandemic)