Reading Farmers' Market

Friendly farmers' market showcasing local food and drink, straight from the producers. First and third Saturday of every month, 8.30am-12pm. #rdguk #eatlocal

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

Happy New Year to all of our lovely customers! Tomorrow is the 1st Farmers Market of 2023, and we are looking forward to welcoming you all to see what's on offer from our wonderful producers.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@InedibleReading @ReadingCouncil There are lots of ideas being discussed on a Facebook post on the market page. Hopefully some will be viable and, with volunteers to help, it will be feasible to keep the market running safely.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@InedibleReading @InedibleReading, the decision rests with @TVFMC. Assuming the market is not cancelled, we will be discussing what measures we can put in place to avoid similar unacceptable queuing happening in future. It will need carefully planning and more people on the ground to help out.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@InedibleReading @ReadingCouncil @InedibleReading, we were unable to do so at the beginning of Saturday's market as people arrived in hoards and formed overlapping queues. It doesn't mean we will not be able to in future. You can guarantee that won't happen again as we will learn from that and make changes.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@afursedon @TVFMC Yes, a few people have suggested limiting the number of customers allowed in at one time, asking people to pre-book time slots on Eventbrite or marking on the floor where customers are allowed to stand. Any of those options will need volunteers to help out on the ground.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

A bit of semi-normality this weekend. We’ve got a great line-up of traders at @ReadingFarmMkt. If you can’t make it due to self-isolation, some of them are offering to take orders for delivery. See full details at https://t.co/rWqBARF1T9. #rdguk #supportlocal #LYLM2020 @TVFMC

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@afursedon @TVFMC gave safety instructions to all the traders, including encouraging contactless payment where possible and having sanitiser or wipes to hand. Unfortunately some don't yet have card payment facilities and some customers don't have contactless cards.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@afursedon That can't happen in future if the market is allowed to continue. We've already had lots of helpful suggestions and a few people have volunteered to help.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@BryanLorigan @ReadingCouncil Lots of people have made helpful suggestions to prevent it and some have volunteered to help.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

For anyone planning to come to @ReadingFarmMkt by car, please note that unfortunately the on-street parking on Great Knollys Street is now metered. It's cheaper to park in the Cattle Market Car Park, where it's just £1 per hour. #rdguk #farmersmarket #parking

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@BryanLorigan @ReadingCouncil @BryanLorigan, the tight queues that formed towards the beginning of Saturday's market definitely can't be allowed to happen again. If the government hasn't ruled out the market from happening by next time we will definitely have some measures in place to prevent it.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@dssgiles @EdibleReading @FidgetBob @dssgiles, yes, it got out of hand for a while but did settle down with some encouragement. Agreed, if the market does continue over the next few months we will need to put some crowd control measures in place.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@BertieBetting @RachelEden @FidgetBob @madhatterspott If the market takes place again in the coming months we will definitely have learnt some lessons from this time.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@BertieBetting @RachelEden @FidgetBob @madhatterspott We always encourage people to support our traders, of course. In this case we were encouraging them to do so while taking care to minimise the risk for themselves and others. In addition to putting out safety advice we offered pre-ordering for delivery for people self-isolating.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@BertieBetting @lee118613 @John_Luther74 @leeiams We couldn't have predicted the huge increase in customer numbers, especially so early in the morning. We did our best in the circumstances. In future, if the market does go ahead, we will need to put some special measures in place to prevent a similar situation from happening.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@BertieBetting @RachelEden @FidgetBob @madhatterspott People stared to arrive at the market an hour before opening time. The queues appeared while the market manager was out putting up directional signs. As soon as she arrived on the scene she started encouraging people to make more space.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@BertieBetting @RachelEden @FidgetBob @madhatterspott No one was blasé. We put out safety advice on Twitter and Facebook and via our newsletter and put up signs at the market about the necessary precautions. All the traders were briefed on the need to take extra hygiene measures, including encouraging contactless payment.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@BertieBetting @RachelEden @FidgetBob @madhatterspott Hopefully that will not be the case, @BertieBetting!

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@BertieBetting @RachelEden @FidgetBob @madhatterspott @TVFMC @BertieBetting, @TVFMC also felt that as the markets offer much better air flow than supermarkets and can enforce much stronger hygiene they offer a safer shopping alternative. However it does depend on people people being sensible and taking our safety guidance on board.

[Reading Farmers' Market @ReadingFarmMkt]

@BertieBetting @RachelEden @FidgetBob @madhatterspott @BertieBetting, @TVFMC decided to keep all their farmers' markets running, after consulting with all the relevant local authorities. They're opportunities for people to stock up on food for the week, including basics like eggs and veg. Very different from streetfood markets.