Farmers market in new territory with online sales venture

Farmers market in new territory with online sales venture
BY BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff Writer Morning Sentinel

FARMINGTON -- Behind the scenes at farmers' markets, producers are up early getting their products picked, cleaned, weighed and packed.

Then they load their vehicles, drive to market and sit for hours in a parking lot to sell the fruits of their labor, knowing there are chores to be done back at the farm.

What if those same products could be sold online?

"In my opinion, it is the future for farmers' markets," said Angelo Pirri, whose family at Sherman Farms in Fairfield raises goats and sells milk, cheese and yogurt.

Pirri is one of the producers selling through the Western Maine Market, a new, Farmington-based virtual, local food shopping experience that is open four days a week. It is run by the nonprofit Western Mountains Alliance.

"This is the start of something really big," said Pirri, who was found at his booth at the Waterville Farmers' Market Thursday.

For producers, the online market offers a new outlet for their locally produced goods and the encouragement to develop a niche market because of the direct access to customers.

For consumers, it means convenience, greater selection and knowing they have the food they ordered waiting for them on pickup day.

Orders are placed at www.westernmainemarket.com and are paid through PayPal, a secure payment site that allows users to have the cost charged to their credit, debit or checking account.

The market went "live" in April and for now is geared toward customers living or working within a 30-mile radius of Farmington. Pickup is between 4 and 6 p.m. during the Sandy River Farmers Market on Front Street in Farmington; other venues are being explored.

There is also the possibility of linking up with other markets such as the Oxford Hills Food Cooperative, according to the Alliance's market coordinator, Tricia Cook. The list of producers who have signed up to sell during the growing season includes farms from Avon to Windsor. On the user-friendly Web site, shoppers can learn about the producers, link to their Web sites, and order meat, poultry, eggs, vegetables, flour, honey and maple syrup products, baked goods, vinegars, flowers, spice blends, herbs and skin care products.

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