Carol Greenman, owner of a small farm in Schoharie County, New York, checks online each week to determine how much produce and baked goods she will need to prepare for her Schoharie Fresh customers.

Vendors with Schoharie Fresh drop off products that are ordered online and market organizers deliver the goods to pick-up locations. Schoharie Fresh moves the browsing that takes place at traditional farmers markets to online.
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That model cuts down the time farmers have to be away from the farm and can be an efficient tool for smaller vendors, like Greenman, who runs Peck and Porter Farm in Jefferson, New York.

“It works terrific,” she said. “I really appreciate it. If it’s produce, you know exactly how much to pick in the morning.”

Schoharie Fresh is one newer venue connecting consumers to farmers outside of the traditional farmers markets. In this week’s Albany Business Review cover story, we focused on the impact farmers markets have on vendors and the communities in which they are held.

Others are carving different paths to reach consumers away from traditional markets.

Gordon Sacks of 9 Miles East skips farmers markets in favor of delivering prepared meals directly to customers. His goal is to reach those who are either too busy to attend the markets or who are not avid local food consumers. Pick up this week’s edition to read how pizza has become one of Sack’s latest tools to connect with customers.