BORDER businesses have been shut out of the ACT amid the deepening coronavirus crisis, slashing income for some by up to 70 per cent.
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Wodonga's Formichi Smallgoods had attended the Capital Region Farmers Market and the Southside Farmers Market in Canberra fortnightly for the past 12 years while Yackandandah-based Gum Tree Pies have been weekly regulars at the Capital Region market for a decade.
Formichi Smallgoods owner Robert Formichi said they found out mid-week that their application to enter the ACT had been denied.
Victorians wanting to enter the territory have been required to apply for an exemption from ACT Health since June 8, as Melbourne struggles to contain a spike in coronavirus cases.
"We put our application in after the NSW-Victorian border closure," Mr Formichi said.
"We've basically been told if we're from Victoria, we're not welcome."
Mr Formichi said the two Canberra markets generated between 60 and 70 per cent of their income.
"They get 6000 people through the Capital Region Farmers Market on the Saturday and 3500 through Southside on Sunday," he said.
"We've had hundreds of Canberra customers emailing us since the border closure."
Having last attended the ACT markets on July 4 and 5, Mr Formichi said they had prepared enough smallgoods for their fortnightly trip this weekend.
"On the way home from Canberra on the Sunday we always stop at Jugiong, where we supply another 25 people with our produce," he said.
"We can't supply those people if we're not going to Canberra and we think we'll be banned there so long as Melbourne is locked down."
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Founded in 1957 by Mr Formichi's father Vasco who came to Australia via Bonegilla Migrant Camp, Formichi Smallgoods still uses traditional recipes from Tuscany.
It will continue to attend the Albury-Wodonga Farmers' Market.
Gum Tree Pies owners Melinda and Sebastian Nedziak said they supported the Capital Region Farmers Market even before they opened their High Street shop.
Mr Nedziak said it generated 30 per cent of their income, representing a "safety bubble" especially during the initial lockdown.
"When our shops dropped off a little, the market helped even things out," he said.
"With the border closure and the Melbourne lockdown, we're worse off than we were at the start of COVID.
"But we understand lots of small businesses are doing it much tougher than us and we're very grateful to all our loyal locals who continue to support us."
Albury-based Murray River Smokehouse will attend both Canberra markets.
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