Farmers markets have been deemed an essential service by the province during the pandemic, so don't worry, you'll still be able to get your locally produced goods and services this year.

The Bentley and District Farmers Market will be moving to an online market this year instead of the physical market to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Manager of the Bentley Farmers Market Wendy Buyer says so far they haven't had any reported cases in their community, and she doesn't want the farmers market to be the reason the virus spreads.

She said online ordering will be coming to their website soon, where vendors can sign up to take orders and arrange for pick up or delivery, which will help them earn a living and also avoid unnecessary food waste.

"Each vendor will have their own profile where they will actually put up their products, their pricing, their availability, whether they do delivery or curbside pick-up. So everybody will be dealt with individually by those market vendors.I'm super hopeful with what we've seen with this program is that it gives me great hope that there is a way to avoid leaving food on the ground, and that's my greatest concern, is that if vendors don't have a place to go and sell these things, they leave it on the ground and it goes to waste. 

Buyer says this might actually turn into a better opportunity for vendors, as they can now accept orders 24/7 if they want. 

How they get their products to their costumers, will be up to them.

"When it comes to delivery and pick-up, that's individually decided by each of the vendors and that will show on the checkout. So when the shopper gets to the checkout, they'll see whether this person, this specific vendor, offers to pick up or delivery and what days they make that available. So this is going to really cut down any kind of person-to-person contact, which is sad because that's we're about, right? We're about event and community, and being together, we just have to be a little different this year to make sure that the vendors are still able to make their income, as well as that food doesn't get wasted."

According to their social media pages, both the Lacombe Farmers and Community markets appear to be ready to open on schedule this year, with the Farmers markets starting May 15th, and the Community Markets starting in June.