Concerns raised over Hutterite-farmer’s market relationships, information on colony cases

Within an hour of Wednesday’s provincial COVID-19 update listing rural municipalities where Hutterite colonies were dealing with cases of the virus, members of the Eagle Creek Hutterite Colony were setting up shop alongside other vendors at the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market.

Their R.M., the R.M. of Eagle Creek, was on the list — prompting some concern about their presence.

But when asked, they were adamant that their colony was COVID-free.

“We’re following the rules like everyone else,” the man among the farmer’s market group said.

The man, who didn’t identify himself, told 650 CKOM the messaging coming from the provincial government on COVID-19 cases in Hutterite colonies is causing confusion.

“Because they (named the R.M.) Eagle Creek, now we’re dealing with a bunch of stuff that’s not ours,” he said. “We don’t like it.”

There are two Hutterite colonies in the R.M. — the one that bears the same name, and the Sunnydale Hutterite Colony.

Saskatoon Farmer’s Market president Adi Ramachandran said the health ministry told him it was asking the affected colonies not to attend the farmers market.

“The Eagle Creek colony … is isolating from all other colonies, and isolating from other people in general,” Ramachandran said. “They would inform us if there were any cases of COVID.”

He added the farmer’s market is staying in close contact with the health ministry over where Hutterite cases are.

“If we found out the Eagle Creek colony had COVID cases, we would probably ask them not to attend the market,” he said.

Farmer’s markets could be deemed essential for colonies: Premier

Hutterite colonies dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks could still be able to go to farmer’s markets, even with restrictions coming to some areas in southwestern Saskatchewan.

The provincial government is in discussions with Hutterite leaders over limiting colonies to essential travel only.

Premier Scott Moe said the reasons for that essential travel could include trips to farmer’s markets.

“This is part of what our colonies do,” Moe said. “(It’s) part of the way they generate funds for the people that reside there.”

He said there may be cautions or restrictions on the travel.

“We must respect the work and how they are making a living like each and every one of us are, but ensure they’re doing so in a safe manner,” the premier added.

Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab noted business could carry on in areas where there isn’t “direct client-customer contact.”

“That isn’t a farmer’s market,” Shahab said.

He noted 20 per cent of all COVID-19 transmission is via asymptomatic cases, so anyone attending any farmer’s market should be exercising caution.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Brady Lang and 980 CJME’s Britton Gray