Library

The Direct Market Farmer's Guide to COVID-19

Summary

As a farmer, the recent spread of the COVID-19 virus globally is creating fear and panic amongst the community, which can have a detrimental effect on your sales. It is currently unclear what effect the shutting of farmers’ markets and different sales channels may have on local food. It’s important to think fast and prepare to reduce the impact and avert losses. As farmers, you need to mitigate the risks and have to start talking to customers. It is time to start deciding on how you are going to prepare—you do not want to be caught flat-footed. At Local Line, we’ve been fortunate to work with thousands of farmers, food hubs, and farmers’ markets, and we know that having an online sales is better for business, especially with current impacts to more traditional sales channels. Being able to sell online and deliver direct to home is big competitive advantage in time of quarantine! We’re not capitalizing on the pandemic, however simply recognizing that this online channel is ideal in a world of quarantine and avoiding public places.Though this is not good, it’s an opportunity to access new customers who might’ve otherwise purchased their groceries from a grocery store or farmers market. Businesses based on social contact are suffering, so let’s tackle COVID-19 head on