Bayswater Growers’ Market Survives and Thrives in COVID-19
The Bayswater Growers’ Market (BGM) has been an oasis of fresh produce in the heart of Bayswater throughout the COVID-19 crisis, supplying food when traditional shopping restrictions hit hard and keeping local suppliers in business when times were tough.
A collaboration between volunteers from the community group Future Bayswater Inc (FuBa) and Heart Inspired Events, BGM has operated every Saturday morning during WA’s COVID-19 restrictions, with stringent health and hygiene conditions to ensure Bayswater locals were served safely.
Future Bayswater Inc Chair Paul Shanahan said between 800 to 1000 people have visited the markets at Bert Wright Park each week, spending an average of $30 per person, which equates to a local community spend of nearly $1.2million dollars each year. In addition the market attendees visit local shops and town centre and bring it to life each Saturday.
“The numbers show there’s a real appetite for a local, fresh alternative to the shopping centres and that was definitely the case during COVID-19. In fact, we found a lot of people preferred to shop at BGM because they felt the open air aspect was safer during the pandemic", said Mr Shanahan. “We were one of only a handful of Perth markets that remained open every weekend- that’s thanks in large part to our local volunteers who put up their hands to help implement strict health and safety measures. BGM really is a case of locals helping locals and we’re really proud of that.”
Market Manager Cynthia Williamson, from Heart Inspired Events, said while the markets had been forced to scale back during restrictions, they are looking forward to expanding again over the coming weeks. “For the past few months, we really concentrated on the essentials- fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, meat, bread and coffee- as well as on hygiene and physical distancing,”
“Now we’re heading into phase 4 and 5 in WA, we will be able to re-introduce more gift, hand-made and specialty stalls and continuing our local and sustainable focus.”
Bayswater Growers' Market is open every Saturday from 8am to 11.30am at the Bert Wright Park on King
William Street, just behind the library. BGM is also plastic-bag free.
Keep up to date on the stalls list by liking Future Bayswater on Facebook HERE
Or check our Bayswater Growers' Market web page on this website HERE