Farmers and fishermen will now be allowed to sell produce from roadside operations, Government announced last night.

It comes in the wake of complaints by farmers and a petition calling for regulations to be changed to help farms and fishermen during the stay-at-home order.

The announcement was made as the Premier, David Burt, gave an update on Covid during a live press conference and according to a Government spokeswoman come into effect now.

In a statement later, the Ministry of National Security said it would now permit farmers to sell local produce at certain roadside stalls or their home bases from 7am to 7pm.

“An exemption letter is required. Any commercial farmer requiring an exemption letter should contact the Ministry of National Security at emogroup@gov.bm,” said a spokeswoman.

She added that a registered commercial farmer may sell with payment being pre-paid or on-site payment, as well as delivery of product at the following sites:

Westover Farm (Ritchie Bascome), Farm Base, Daniel’s Head, Sandys

J&J Produce (Roland Hill) - Farm Base, Astwood Park, Warwick

Wadson's Farm (Tom Wadson) - Farm Base, Lukes Pond Road, Southampton

Amaral Farms (Carlos Amaral) - Farm Base, Bleak Farm, Watlington Road, Devonshire

Windy Bank Farms (Malcolm Smith) - Farm Base, Windy Bank, Middle Road, Smiths

Hideaway Farms (Hans Olander) - Farm Base, Jacob’s Point Road, St. George’s

DeSilva Farms (Manuel DeSilva) – Farm Base, Marguarita Lane, Middle Road, Devonshire

Pacheco & Sons (Roger Pacheco) – Farm Base, Locust Hall, Devonshire

Powell Farm (Michael Powell) – Farm Base, Watlington Lane, Devonshire

Commercial farmers may operate a roadside stand to sell fresh local produce between the hours of 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday.

J&J Produce (Junior Hill) - entrance of Melville South, Devonshire

Amaral Farms (Carlos Amaral) – opposite Garthowen Est., Middle Road, Devonshire

Raphael Barnett – Court Street, Pembroke

Benjamin D’Estrella – Burchall’s Cove, Hamilton Parish

Smith’s Farms (Milton Williams) – opposite White Hill Field, Sandys

Dill Pickles Farm (Jevaughn Dill) – Rubber Tree, near Warwick Post Office; grass field just south of MAWI; Government Health Clinic, Hamilton

Saleem Madyun – Rockaway, Southampton; Tivoli Park, Warwick

Scratcher Farms (Audley Shepherd) – between Barnes Corner and Frank’s Bay, Southampton

Gardiner Fruits & Vegetables (Wilbur Burt) - Farm Base, Cedar Ave, Pembroke

D.R. Farms (Daniel Renaud) - Pond House Road, Smith’s

Jones Farm (Sheldon Jones) – Devon Springs Road, Smiths

Roots Gardening, (Brian Swan) - Abbot’s Cliff, Hamilton Parish

Wadson’s Farm (Tom Wadson) – CSA pick up, Seabright Ave, Paget

R Barnett - Court Street

The spokeswoman added: “Sites will be monitored for compliance by the agriculture officer, the Bermuda Police Service and Royal Bermuda Regiment.”

In addition, the Ministry of National Security will now also permit fishermen to sell fish at certain roadside stalls or docks from 7am to 7pm.

Any fisherman requiring an exemption letter should contact the Ministry of National Security at emogroup@gov.bm. They are asked to include a copy of thier Fisheries ID and the expiry date.

The list of approved vendor sites is as follows:

Mangrove Bay, Sandys Parish

Ely’s Harbour Public Dock, Sandys Parish

Scaur Hill Dock, Sandys Parish

Robinson’s Marine Station, Sandys Parish

Jews Bay, Southampton Parish

Trimingham Hill, Paget Parish

Ducking Stool, Pembroke Parish

Palmetto Road, Devonshire Parish

Devonshire Dock, Devonshire Parish

Devonshire Bay, Devonshire Parish

Burchall Cove, Hamilton Parish

Bailey’s Bay Public Dock, Hamilton Parish

Kindley Field, St Georges Parish

Mullet Bay, St Georges Parish