September 2020 - 16

FARM MARKET & AGRITOURISM
Market adjusts to new normal during pandemic
By Dean Peterson
VGN Correspondent
The pandemic has changed the
rules for growers who direct market.
For Corrion Farms & Greenhouse of
Essexville, Michigan, it's meant going
online and developing the farm's first
web-based ordering system.
" We talked about what we wanted to
do within the family and got everyone's
opinion before we started. We planned
our website from beginning to end, "
said Dina Corrion, owner of the
business with her husband, Norm.
The website offers online ordering
for contactless delivery to customers
in Essexville and the nearby cities
of Saginaw, Bay City and Midland.
Deliveries are made to each city on
a different day and there is a small
delivery fee.
The contactless delivery is made
to the customer's front door. " There
are people who really like it, " Dina
said. " They're happy we're doing this
with the pandemic. " These customers
are often those who are high-risk for
COVID-19, such as the elderly, or
simply people who want to minimize
outside contact.
Corrion Farms & Greenhouse also
offers scheduled, curbside pickup at
the farm one day a week for online
orders.
The key is setting up the online
ordering to get the quality information
needed for efficient scheduling and
delivery. Customers must select the
shipping option - local delivery or
curbside farm pickup - and provide
their address, phone number and any
other delivery or pickup details or
special needs.
" It was a bit of a learning process, "
Dina said, " but with the website, it's
been pretty easy. "
Floriculture is a mainstay of earlyseason
marketing. Flowers fit well
with vegetables because they're a short
season crop and offer a rotation option
in the greenhouses.
Geraniums, morning glories and
ornamental grasses are popular choices
and can all be purchased online. " We
hope to be done with flowers before
pickles, " Dina said. Tomato transplants
also sell well in the spring.
Vegetable sales ramp up by July.
Watermelon, cantaloupe, sweet corn,
tomatoes and potatoes are the top
selling vegetables. " A lot of people like
our potatoes, " Dina said. Vegetables
sold online are sold by bundles.
The pandemic has brought changes to farm markets and vendors, like Nicholas Corrion,
left, of Corrion Farms & Greenhouse of Essexville, Michigan. Vendors and customers are
often required to wear masks. Photo: Dean Peterson
The regular vegetable bundle is
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intended to give three to four adults
about a week's worth of vegetables. The
small vegetable bundle is intended to
supply one to two adults for about a
week. Both bundles typically contain
six to eight types of vegetables.
Customers can specify when
ordering if there are any vegetables
they don't want. They can also add
on an extra amount of their favorite
vegetables for an extra fee and specify
the quantity if they want to.
The vegetables in the bundles change
over the season and customers can
check Corrion Farms & Greenhouse's
Facebook page to see what's available.
A sunflower bouquet of four to five
large sunflowers is also offered in the
summer months.
The operation has five greenhouses
and was started by Norm's great,
grandfather. Their son, Nicholas, is
actively involved on the farm. The
other three children help out when
their jobs allow. " We've been very
fortunate, " Dina said, " to have family
members who can help out. "
Corrion Farms & Greenhouse still
markets at three farmers' markets in
Michigan - Midland, Saginaw and East
Lansing, and the pandemic has brought
changes. " All three of the markets we're
at are roped off with the sidewalks
marked to guide the customers, " Dina
said. " Vendors at all three markets are
required to wear masks. "
One market requires a double row
of tables to separate vendors from
customers by an extra table width.
" They don't want people handling any
produce, " Dina said. It also helps with
social distancing.
The customer reaction to all of this
at the outdoor farmers' markets varies.
" Some are coming who don't want to
wear a mask, " Dina said. " Some like the
masks to feel safe. Some don't feel safe
and like to stay at home. "
" We've always gone to the markets, "
Dina said, and online marketing lets
Corrion Farms & Greenhouse still get
fresh produce to the customers who
can't make it this year. VGN
@FGNews
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September 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2020
