ITHACA, N.Y.—The 2021 Winter Farmers Market has already started this past weekend, and will run every Saturday from now until the end of March. This year, though, the market is offering an online option to cater to those who are uncomfortable with shopping in person due to the coronavirus.
The market runs each Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is located in the Triphammer Marketplace. There will be an online option, which will allow customers to look through “food, art and farm products from their favorite vendors” on one site and pay there, picking up their orders behind the Triphammer Marketplace without having to have in-person contact.
The online marketplace will go live on Monday, Jan. 18, and pickups can be completed between 12-2 p.m. each Saturday. There is a $5 charge for pick-up services, and customers can register here. The pickup phone number is (607) 323-7967.
The physical farmers market will see some tweaks as well, in order to optimize safety.
“The physical market is different this year, too,” said the announcement. “Vendors will be setup in the atrium like last year, with a new shopping area down the hall in an empty storefront. The storefront allows the market to spread out much more than last year—helping vendor and customers stay six feet from each other.”
Market officials are obviously excited for the changes.
“Though the Market has looked a little different this year, we are thrilled to have been able to get the same high-quality, local products into the hands of our customers without any major distuptions in service,” said Market Manager Kelly Sauve. “During the pandemic—online shopping has boomed, and we hope that our new platform will be a real asset to the community, keeping us all safe and streamlining the weekly shopping experience.”