Video by Sydney Di Brina
Multimedia by Jennifer Nguyen
Story by Carlos Rayman
Farmer’s markets and food festivals in Toronto this year have been scaled back or cancelled altogether due to the on-going COVID-19 health pandemic.
Daily new case counts of the Novel Coronavirus have averaged 400 or more, prompting the City of Toronto to revert to a modified Stage 2 reopening back on October 10. A maximum of 25 guests can attend social gatherings and events, the Taste of Danforth last year had 1.6 million attendees over its three-day run.
The organizers of Canada’s largest street festival made the decision to cancel the August event in May citing the difficulties faced by its Greektown restauranters.
“When our members are fighting for survival in terms of whether they’ll be open the next day this was not the time to give them the burden of a festival,” said Howard Lichtman Chief Marketing Officer for The Taste of Danforth.
Tasting tables are used to provide guests with a sampling of each Greektown restaurant’s bestsellers, though the environment is “cramp and hard to social distance,” he said.
The Taste of Danforth decided not to host a virtual equivalent event, while other festivals did.
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The Festival has grown to be a city food tradition but poses obvious logistical problems given the COVID-19 pandemic. “It can get pretty out of control, lots of people being there I don’t see them being saft at all,” said Luc D’hereux a regular attendee.
Halton Region has been allowed to remain in Stage 3 with lighter restrictions.
Farm markets which pull much less traffic than Toronto food festivals are “thriving,” said Leigh O’mara, manager of SpringRidge Farmer’s Market in Milton. “People are craving that local food festival experience.” She said.
Organizers have yet to decide if The Taste of Danforth will resume in 2021.
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