Success StoryFarmers Market Continues During Covid-19



Farmers Market Continues During Covid-19

Author: Lori Bowling

Planning Unit: Boyd County CES

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Plan of Work: Small Lot Farming/Food Production

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

The farmers market in Boyd County opened the 2020 season with many extra guidelines for operation for both vendors and customers due to the Covid-19 crisis.  Many customary market operations had to be adjusted to adhere to these guidelines to offer a safe shopping environment for the market customers and the farmers.However, the market sales were not hurt as bad as were expected due to customers staying away from crowds and gatherings.  The market saw an increase in local vendors selling at the market by  10% which also added more variety for the customers.Once again this year the Boyd County Farmers Market accepted WIC and Sr Farmers Market Nutrition Voucher and also were able to offer the Kentucky
Double Dollar vouchers to the Sr voucher recipients. The total market sales for the 2020 season will be close to $110,000 which is reduced from the 2019 season but was more than had been expected with the reduced number of customers due to the Covid-19 crisis. Many of the customers who patronized the market reported that they were buying local for food safety reasons as well as freshness. There was also an increased interest noted in many customers who were engaging in food preservation for their first time during this crisis. Without local farmers markets and the Sr voucher program, many of the elderly would also not have access to fresh, locally raised produce and products.






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