Fresh produce is just a click away
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff writer
If there’s ever been a knock against the Burlington Farmers Market, it’s that it takes place just one day a week for only a few hours.
While those few hours serve many customers, Market Director Carol Reed has been wondering how to reach others – people who work second shift, for example.
Her solution is to offer the market online, and now that solution is a reality.
“I have been kind of thinking about this for a year or so,” said Reed. “I’m not technological about that stuff.”
The online market allows customers to order and pay through the website. They then have the option of picking up the produce on Thursday at the regular market or on Saturday mornings at Gooseberries grocery store.
Reed hopes that the online market would provide an opportunity for those who couldn’t make the market to purchase items.
In order to get the project off the ground, Reed worked with software designer Linda Mallers – whom she had met through another project. Mallers approached Reed, and then wrote the software.
Mallers is actually using Burlington as a pilot market for the program, hoping to get a grant later to develop software to do this with other markets.
“It’s quite the undertaking,” said Reed, who added that each farm has a market page. “Her goal is to get a viable, sustainable business.”
To visit the virtual market, go to www.burlingtonwifarmersmarket.com. There is a tab on the home page to shop online.
Reed said almost all of the 27 vendors are on board with the process, with a few working through getting online now.
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