The Online Farmer's Market | .....Aaron's EnvironMental Corner.....

The Online Farmer’s Market

Filed Under: Organic Gardening, Susatainable Living on October 10, 2009

Two ladies in Virginia, Deborah Williamson and Deanna Child, have formed Farmer Girls, LLC. Their new enterprise created FarmersOnlineMarket.net where people in the area can go to see what is available from the two growers. Both Deborah and Deanna have farms in Virginia and the two of them realized that there is a disconnect between people who buy produce and goods and the farmers who’re producing it.

The project started in June of this year and is growing rapidly. Other local farmers have been signing on, selling their wares through the Farmers Online Market and the idea is really gaining steam.

The process of direct selling from farms to consumers means higher profits for the farmers, better prices (and groceries) for the consumers, and less transportation and other markups in the mix.

Deanna, for instance, raises pastured pork, poultry, etc. at her Orlean, Virginia Flatrock Farm. While these meats are worth more to the consumer (and are much healthier as well as make for happier animals), stores like Whole Foods and other outlets don’t usually pay as much of a premium for them as the farmer might hope.

Deborah is co-owner of Seven Oaks Lavender Farm in Cartlett, Virginia which grows lavender (who’d have guessed?) and produces several products based around that popular plant.

The idea is a great one and I’d love to see this go national. Where I live, there are thousands upon thousands of acres of farms, most of which grow corn, soybeans, and wheat. Most of the corn ends up in animal feeds and ethanol (sadly) and most of the soy for the same. Most of those are also genetically modified (GMO) varieties as well.

The organic and traditional farms are hard to find, but there are several out there. It would be great if those growers could come together like that in this area–and in every area nationally, for that matter. The easier it is for the consumers and farmers to come together, the easier it is for both to profit from the healthier food produced.