Spring Market at Ix During the Corona Virus
The Winter Farmers Market at Ix Art Park was ending it’s season, just as the Corona Virus was spreading in Virginia. The last market was held on Mar. 21, and we had scheduled a 2 week break before the opening of City Market on April 4. In those two weeks schools and colleges were closed, non-essential businesses were closed, and the City Market cancelled its opening. The Virginia Farmers Market Association, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, market related non-profits all scrambled to organize safe venues for spring local farm products to reach customers. As an organization that connects consumers and local farmers and producers, we felt it was critical for the emerging spring crops to reach their destinations.
During the month of April, several market venues have emerged. A representative from Lulu’s Local Food, a web platform offered by the non-profit VA Foundation for Agriculture Innovation and Rural Sustainability, informed attendees at a central VA zoom market meeting, that the Lulu’s platform would aggregate vendors around specific pick-up places to sell on line. Compared to on-site sales, the online model would eliminate several touching points between customers and vendors.
The Local Food Hub, the City Market and Market Central all set up market hubs on Lulu’s. Most recently, Bellair Farm also has a Lulu’s Hub. Online sales are very convenient but not without their drawbacks. A lot of time is involved in posting inventory, and for farmers, it is sometimes difficult to predict how much of an item will be available for a future date. The weather, ripening times, labor etc, factor into the estimates. There are other costs involved: the Lulu’s site requests 2% of sales for their services, and the payment processor also costs around 2%. Most of the pick-up sites have a fee for administration, and there is extra cost in labor, and packaging for pre-ordered goods. For Market Central, a large disadvantage is that as providers of SNAP and SNAP match services, there has been no way to pay with SNAP on a prepay site, so some of our important clients are adversely affected. The drive through markets minimize contact, but traffic congestion can be a problem.
To address some of the challenges, Market Central at Ix is the only market in the area that currently offers several vending and shopping options. Quite a few Ix Market vendors have joined the Lulu’s platform. Several other vendors including Sussex Farm and Hog Haven take orders on their own websites. Still other vendors such as Ternion Springs Farm, Pies and Produce, Agriberry and Mexican Tacos operate on a walk-in basis. Most of our vendors operate in all three capacities: order on line on Lulu’s, their own websites, or walk-in sales.
Tokens are still available for SNAP or Debit/credit cards. Our safety is protected by using masks and gloves and hand sanitizer is available for customers and vendors. We are all obligated to observe social distancing, We are fortunate that our partners at Ix Art Park have enough space that vendors are 10 feet apart, and rows are 20 feet apart.
We welcome feedback. Customers are doing a great job adjusting to the new options, but there is always room for innovation. For now, if you want to order and prepay, go to https://marketcentral.luluslocalfood.com or to individual vendor’s websites. Or just come to the market! We’ll be glad to see you.
Spread the word that SNAP and matching coupons can be used at the Ix market for food and plants!