Farmers see decrease in market sales because of COVID-19 pandemic

Less customers at farmers' markets means more changes for producers.

Mullooly thanks for joining us.

Tonight-- farmers in northeast indiana and northwest ohio say they're experiencing difficulties in sales this season due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Fox-55's mallory beard spoke with some of them to discuss some of the challenges they've been facing over the past couple months.

3 tadd petersen says farmers have seen a plunge in sales this year because of covid-19.

Fewer customers at the markets means more changes for growers.

Tadd petersen//narr ow road farm/auburn, in "our responses to that has been online farmers market as we call it where people can visit our website and we do distributions around greater fort wayne and we most recently moved to home delivery."

Petersen says this season isn't like any other with sales down as much as thirty percent.

"because of the pandemic, people are less prone to going into public spaces such as farmers markets."

But he accomodating customers online is making a difference for both business and customer safety.

Tadd petersen//narrow road farm/auburn, in "that's why home delivery and those kinds of options are important for farmers to think about as we're navigating these interesting times."

Ken zimmerman says his sales have increased over the past couple months.

But only because people have rushed to purchase meat in large quantities.

He's even had to limit how much customers can buy since livestock orders won't be readily available like they were prior to the virus.

Ken zimmerman//fruited plain seeds farm "if somebody wants a large amount there's no way to accommodate them now without sacrificing your regular sales."

Mikkal hodges agrees that sales have plummeted this year.

But he says transitioning to a virtual farmers market called market wagon in the last month and half has been a saving grace.

Mikkal hodges//hodge family farm "it's been very good.

The first couple of weeks.

It was a little slow the first couple of weeks but the last three or four weeks we've done very well with the produce that we have."

Both hodges and petersen have struggled with maintaining their ripened crops since they've had to throw away so much food over the past couple months.

Peterson says farmers just want to serve their customers the best product and keep them healthy.

Tadd petersen//narr ow road farm/auburn, in "particularly if we move into a space where there's food shortages or just like we've seen this year with meat processing plants and things of that nature...buying direct from a farm is really the best option to ensure your family is food secure."

In auburn i'm mallory beard fox 55 news the indoor season for the fort wayne farmers market will begin october third and continue every saturday from nine a-m to one p-m at parkview field.

Covid-19 precautions will be enforced with extra spacing