The Bradford Farmers' Market will be back for another season starting March 27.
Last year, due to COVID, the market pivoted to a virtual format with shoppers ordering online and picking up in a contactless drive-through Saturday mornings at the Bradford Leisure Centre parking lot.
This year, the market will start with online shopping only until May 22, at which time Market Manager Laura Vree hopes she will be able to add the outdoor in-person shopping experience, depending on the state of the pandemic.
The online market will be open for the entire season.
While some residents were disappointed the market didn't open for in-person shopping last year, Vree said it was the best decision for the safety of the customers.
"At the beginning that wasn't really our plan (to stay online) but as we saw what online was doing for people and how it worked for us, we wanted to keep going with it," said Vree.
One of the benefits of the online market is the lack of wasted product, said Vree. All items are made to order so vendors know exactly how much to bring each week.
In the past, leftover unsold products were brought to nursing homes or community members in need, but with COVID that wouldn't have been possible last year and leftovers would have gone to waste.
Another bonus with the market being online was being able to bring in new items from different vendors.
"So that worked really great for us," said Vree. "I am proud that we were able to have a full season, an extended season, and did help a lot of people out."
The numbers for the 2020 season weren't as high as the regular outdoor market years, but overall Vree thinks the vendors were happy with their sales.
"Certainly an open market would be more successful for all of us," said Vree, "and so that's why we want to reopen, it is what a market is all about and it's time for us to do that."
Vree said with a year of the pandemic under our belt and a better understanding of the virus, she feels comfortable going ahead with an outdoor market for 2021.
"We're going in there with a positive attitude," she said.
It wasn't until the last market of the year in December that Vree truly felt her decision to keep the market online was the right one after receiving positive feedback from customers including two sisters who shopped at the online market every week.
One of the sisters was very ill and unable to shop in public.
"The thought of actually walking into a market was too overwhelming for her and too scary, this was a way for her to get out and see some people (through a car window)," said Vree.
Having the online market meant "the world" to her, Vree was told.
"She felt so safe and she felt so validated," said Vree, "the vendors would greet her by name."
Coming to the market each week, picking up her fresh and unique products gave her the feel of the in-person market from the comfort of her car.
"This just sealed the deal for us, that we knew we had made the right decision and that's why we want to do the online again for as long as we can," said Vree.
The idea to keep the online market open for the entire season this year is for those who are still hesitant about shopping in public spaces.
This year the market will feature its regular vendors like Springh Farms, Sweet Annabella's, Sweet Handmade Cookies, The Polish Chef, Say Cheese, and 27 Country Market and applications for new vendor spots will be available this weekend.
To learn more visit the Bradford Farmers' Market website here.
