With the spread of COVID-19 and a stay-at-home order in Indiana, those who run the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market had to get creative about how vendors can sell their products.
Starting this week, the farmer’s market is online, giving people the ability to still buy and sell products during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a press release from the City of Bloomington. The market will operate online as long as public health guidelines recommend physical distancing, according to the release.
“The support of our local food systems is crucial,” market coordinator Marcia Veldman said in the release. “Farmers and the food and beverage artisans are key providers of essential services during this unprecedented time.”
Shoppers can purchase products online from any vendor or combination of vendors and make a single payment for the total purchase online, according to the release.
All purchases have to be made through the city website by 11:59 p.m. the Thursday before the following Saturday market day.
Customers will then be alphabetically assigned to a one-hour window between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, beginning this weekend, for curbside pickup of their items in the Switchyard Park Pavilion parking lot. Nothing will be available for purchase on site.
Customers picking up online orders will remain in their cars while market staff members deliver their items to a curbside pickup table, according to the release.
There are 99 farm vendors and 18 food and beverage artisans signed up for the online market, according to the release.
Shoppers who use food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will be able to use the stamps with the online system, according to the release. The value of the program benefits will continue to be doubled. There will be instructions on the market website for how to use them.
