During the pandemic, producers who sell their products directly to consumers at places such as farmers markets experienced a boom in activity. People’s fear of shopping at their local grocery store found a “safer” way of buying food directly from farmers, writes Chris Torres for American Agriculturalist.

While farmers markets saw an increase in sales thanks to the pandemic, another trend occurred too.

“What happened in 2020 as well, some of the produce vendors were selling at their own farm, and there was such huge demand on their own farm that they couldn’t be at both the market and farm, or didn’t need to be at both. They were selling everything at the farm,” said Penn State Cooperative Extension educational program associate Brian Moyer. “We’ve seen this drop in produce vendors at markets, and so there’s still not enough produce vendors to go around at all the markets.”

The choice to sell or not sell at a farmers market is up to each producer. One local producer who’s chosen to keep selling at various farmers markets is Emma de Long, the owner of the small 4-acre Kneehigh Farm near Pottstown.

Of the various farmers markets she sells at includes Swarthmore Farmers Market, and recently she opened a small retail market down the street from her own farm.

“The market is kind of the one face-to-face time you have guaranteed every week, because you’re always in the field or doing something else,” de Long said.

Her farm is supported by 120 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) members. She uses one of her markets as CSA pickup spots for her customers.

“I found it was really easy to put it in boxes and bring it down. I set everything up and people have a free-choice CSA,” said de Long.

If you’re interested in setting up your own stall at the farmers market, its important to do your research and know what customers are looking for at a specific market and what’s in demand depending upon the season.

“Knowing that stuff will give you way more success at the market,” Moyer said.

Read more about farmers market trends in American Agriculturalist.