SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — A Summerside farm is adapting to meet the current climate.
After the Summerside Farmers’ Market temporarily closed last week, Arthur and Tina Davies decided to convert their Emmerdale Eden Farm into a drive-thru to hinder the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19 strain).
“If someone wants to pick up vegetables or fruit from the farm, we advise them to call or email what they want before arrival. If we have the food items, Tina or I will let them know the time for pick up and the cost that can be made by cash or, better yet, e-transfer (online payment),” said Arthur, noting they wear gloves as a safety precaution.
Items are packed into recyclable brown paper bags, ready to be handed through the window of the vehicle to accommodate social distancing and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“While we have been self-isolating on the farm, people that relied on getting their food at the farmers' market still need fresh and healthy produce. It’s important to support local all the time because if more people did, the economy would improve, and the health of people would be better,” he said.
“With our local produce, we don’t have any additives or preservatives in our food. We don’t grow items and try to preserve them for six months. If you go to the grocery store chains and see a loaf of bread that can last six months, there’s something wrong. Local is always best.”
Other vendors from the farmers' market are evolving to stay in business and meet demand.
“Our daughter makes sausage rolls, waffles and other food, and she stays inside her home and leaves customer orders outside the front door. When people come to pick up their labelled package, they can leave money in a box or make an e-transfer payment,” he said.
Tina said she and Arthur are willing to deliver food packages to homes in the area for those who can’t get out, such as the elderly.
“We will leave the food parcel outside their door,” she said.
“Arthur and I are reinventing our business while helping people in the community.”
The certified organic farm grows garlic, lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, carrots, beans, peas and squash, as well as raspberries, rhubarb and blueberries.
"We used to have cows, sheep, pigs, all organically raised. Now we only grow fruit and vegetables," said Arthur.
The farm is also part of the P.E.I. Seed Alliance.
"(The P.E.I. Seed Alliance is) inspired to preserve rare and heirloom varieties and believe that seed, the root of our food system, is a public trust,” said Arthur.
He expressed frustration with the crowded grocery stores amid panic-buying.
“The farmers’ market could monitor customers a lot better than a large grocery store chain. We could control 10 people coming in, as well as social distancing, but you can’t do that with the large grocery stores,” he said while stressing the importance of aggressive social distancing to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The Davies also note that a drive to a rural farm can be a "source of peace and calm" with the reward of fresh air for those who have been mainly keeping inside.
