Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Crossfield Spring Farmers Market has been postponed until Sept. 18, according to Cheryl Shea, market manager.
The annual farmers market was originally scheduled to take place April 18 at the Crossfield Community Centre.
"We've put it off until Sept. 18, so we'll be doing a reboot in the fall," Shea said.
More than 100 vendors sold their homemade items at last year's market, according to Shea, coming from communities as far away as Drumheller, Red Deer and Okotoks.
While the spring event is on the backburner, Shea said she is still optimistic the weekly Crossfield Summer Farmers Market can proceed. The weekly market kicks off in early June and runs every Thursday at the community centre from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
"June 4 is our opening date and we're hoping that can stick," Shea said. "We are considered an essential service, so the farmers market should be able to proceed, with some guidelines.
"Our guidelines so far are that food vendors are permitted, but we're not 100 per cent sure about our artisans yet. But we'll have food trucks on site and it will be as normal as normal can be."
While the pandemic has changed the plans of the local market this. year, Shea said she hopes the ongoing COVID-19 crisis teaches people the value of supporting local food providers.
"I'm hoping one of the big things that comes out of all this is that we realize the importance of shopping and supporting local, and knowing where our food comes from," she said. "A farmers market can really do that for a community."
