The Weblog
The local foods movement is alive and well in Champaign County! Here are some updates on other projects while we finalize our virtual market:
Local Producers Map:
Our local producers map is ready for publication and you will soon be able to find it on gochampaign.com. Copies will be distributed around the community, in the local telephone book, and other “hangouts”. The guide lists the location and contact information for nearly 50 local producers within our county. The map was a project of the Local Food Council and printed with the help of some local sponsors including the Monument Square District, Champaign Bank, the Community Improvement Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Bureau and others. It is a great start to finding a local source for Champaign County’s finest!
Just A Word
Just a word from your market manager…and a HUGE thank you, and dose of LOVE…
This market soared to new heights, this time, and it’s all because of your love!! We saw new customers, we saw the return of old customers, and we saw the always loyal weekly customers!!
The past few months have watched this market just sort of float along…not really a whole lot of sales, not a whole lot of interest.
I began to research, and think, and wonder if we were about to be a thing of the past.
I know that when we began work on this market, almost 6 years ago, we were SO cutting edge, the only game on the scene, like this, the hippest kids on the block.
Over the years, we have seen big box stores add tons of organic, tons of what they term local, and while they have gotten really good at stocking real local, there is still a whole lot of local out there, that comes from way the heck away local.
We have seen the onset of groceries who now offer curbside services. We have seen the explosion of home deliveries of food, CSA boxes, and we have seen a physical farmers market pop up in every city, in every state, on just about every corner. We get it…we are not even the only online farmers market in Ohio, these days.
We know that you are offered choices, we know that we are elated that you still put your trust in us, we know that you work hard for your money, and just about everything out there, is begging for you to spend that money, elsewhere.
We even get that this market is even as easy as driving up to a curb, and getting your products delivered. We get that we cannot ship to you, or deliver to your doorstep.
BUT…what we do have to offer is a whole lot of local hear and soul. Vendors, managers, the staff of the YMCA who care about you, love you, and want to always be able to give you the very best.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for giving life back to this market!!
You are amazing, and we are here for you, always…
XOXO,
Cosmic Pam