Starting at 8am on Wednesday, April 28 and until at least Wednesday, May 12, Nova Scotia will begin a two-week lockdown with province-wide circuit breaker restrictions. Changes to health and safety restrictions are highlighted on pages 2-5 of this document, which you can view by clicking here.

Please note that farmers’ markets are still allowed to operate in all regions throughout Nova Scotia. Farmers’ Markets of Nova Scotia continues to hold that public markets are essential food infrastructure providing essential economic services. The Province of Nova Scotia recognizes farmers’ market vendors as essential service workers.

All of Nova Scotia remains under a Provincial State of Emergency and farmers’ markets must continue to adhere to restrictions contained in the most current Nova Scotia Health Protection Act order. Please note that the situation can change at any time. Go to https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/ to stay updated on the situation.

All farmers’ markets should observe the measures outlined in the directives on pages 2-5 of this document and adopt a regionally appropriate COVID-19 prevention plan for their farmers’ market’s operations. Additional resources are available at the end of this document (page 6).

Please note that all farmers’ markets—even if not presently operating—are urged to contact FMNS immediately for sector-specific support and guidance.

FMNS is Nova Scotia’s farmers’ market sector association. FMNS regularly provides updates and directives to farmers’ markets so that they may continue to safely operate. We continue to work with various Government of Nova Scotia departments to stay updated on efforts to contain the spread COVID-19.

FMNS continues to hold that farmers’ markets may be able to serve more customers and generate more sales for vendors through adopting a pre-ordering and/or pick-up model, which may include operating an online marketplace. A hybrid approach may offer your farmers’ market more opportunities for vendors and patrons while helping your market adapt to any future restrictions.

FMNS encourages those farmers’ markets that run public markets to ensure that the primary focus of the market is on promoting commercial activity for their vendors, with an emphasis on creating safe, population-controlled spaces with social distancing measures and/or physical barriers.

FMNS continues to hold that farmers’ markets are the social, cultural, and economic backbone of communities across Nova Scotia. They’re small-business incubators, job creators, and hubs for community building. By adapting and observing restrictions we’ll keep ensuring that our farmers’ markets continue to safely operate and support our communities.