Farmers markets — quintessential old-fashioned, community events — are going virtual to attract more buyers.
The University of Maryland, College Park last month launched foodtrader.org, an Internet farmers market where farmers from throughout Maryland and surrounding states can reach thousands more customers by listing their produce, prices and location. Customers can in turn place orders for produce to pick up at the market.
More farmers, who are on average nearly 60 years old, are discovering the Internet as a viable outlet that can them make money, said Joanne Throwe, associate director of the university’s Environmental Finance Center.
She said she thinks of the Web site as a Craiglist Web site for farmers.
“More often than not, the small farmer is looking for new ways to promote their goods, not just farmers markets,” Throwe said. “The time has come, and more and more farmers are using it.”
About 150 farms in Maryland are registered members of foodtrader.org or agtrader.org, a sister site Throwe started in May for farmers to buy and sell equipment and livestock.
Gov. Martin O’Malley recently urged residents to buy local, and the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Marketing and Agribusiness Development created marylandsbest.net, a site that allows residents to find local food and agriculture products, everything from seafood to wine to horse farms.
Baltimore City schools are “cyber-farming” on foodtrader.org to buy 82,000 peaches from a Carroll County farm, said Anthony Geraci, who is in his first year as head of the system’s food and nutrition services.
The peaches don’t have to travel far to be ready for the first day of school.
“I’m a chef. Maryland is my pantry. I open the doors and see what is available in the season,” Geraci said.
“Local food is fresh food. Fresh food produces a better product. You can’t tell me fresh peaches don’t put a smile on kids’ faces.”
