Farmers Market – Online!
August 17th, 2009 by Elizabeth UlionAn early weekend morning run to the local farmers market has become routine to many across the country. But for some the fresh produce and locally produced food items are available by the click of a mouse. Online farmers markets are making it easier but also more disconnected to participate in a local food economy.
The New Hampshire Virtual Farmers Marketplace has been in operation since 2008. Customers can log in, place an order and schedule a pick up or delivery time from farmers near them.
“This technology is an absolute requirement for survival. We know there is a whole generation of consumers that is comfortable with computers and the Internet, and they use it for shopping,” said Jeff Cole, executive director of the Massachusetts farmers markets group and reported by USA Today.
A whole new group of people might start buying directly from farmers this way. For others it might make it easier to sit and wait for delivery instead of getting out and connecting with a community. Being part of something bigger, meeting people you might not have a chance meet (farmers!) and seeing the wide variety of food produced by farms in your area are some of the best opportunities created by farmers markets.
What do you think?
Elizabeth Ulion is a graduate student at Northwestern University. She is addicted to the summer squash from the local Kern Family Farm.
Photo courtesy of NatalieMaynor/Flickr
The only concept I can think of that's more eco-friendly is a community garden/farm, where everyone contributes to the funding or work of the farm and then takes what they need. The communal effort would rein in diverging energies and bring people together, and no one would have to go too far to get the produce they needed.
How would internet access to a farmer's market differ from supermarket delivery systems like Giant Food's Peapod? It never really took off, because people want to be there to feel out their food themselves. Making your own personal selection of what you eat has been ingrained in the way we behave since before we were homo sapiens.
Internet ordering will never be a viable option for farmers markets – or any type of food market. Food has always been about bringing people together, whether it's for the communal harvest, holiday feast, tribal hunts, all the way to the digression of picking up food at your local grocery. Removing the social aspect of food acquisition will only catch on with a select group of people, never the masses. The internet has a way of pulling people apart on the most basic level, and in my opinion, goes against my idea of a sustainable society in most of its modes.
Let me introduce you to fresh direct. Eating may be social, but shopping sucks. Ever been to Whole Foods at 6pm on a weekday? (and I actually love WF) I'd much rather get my local, in-season produce over the internet than have a large grocer ship my produce from Chile.
People have to see where there food is coming from, even if there are smoke and mirrors involved (ie what Food Inc. showed us).
Yea, I think this will never become to popular. I know personally I like to go into the market and check out the fruits and vegtables andpick out the ones that i feel are the best! No matter how bad shopping is people will still go because they need to!
In big cities, I think this will really work! Markets get so crowded in New York and delivery is quite efficient, since there is very little sprawl.
Quality can be a feature of the system – produce can be editorially or crowd-source rated. There is high repeat-business incentive to be honest about it.
I think this is great. So often I can't make it to my local market until later in the day. Then, the eggs, strawberries, fresh mozzerella, gluten free brownies, etc are sold out! This way I could reserve and pick up later! I know that I could trust my local farmers to not give me poor stuff. Everything at the markets here is always top condition. In a way, this is like a csa in which you pay in advance and pick up a box….except you dont have to commit week to week!