Ten years ago in Ohio, an online farmers market service called Market Wagon was created to give farmers another outlet to sell their products year-round. When the service was deemed an essential business at the beginning of the pandemic, it became a critical way for Ohio farmers to sell their products to the community.
Market Wagon is now a major online retailer for locally-sourced products — partnering with more than 90 Ohio farmers and distributing out of four hubs across Ohio.
“Market Wagon made our business, to be honest,” says Trish Barbee of Barbee Market. “We had plans to open a storefront and we were told about Market Wagon — sales just exploded. We were having trouble keeping up with the demand. So we actually tabled our plans. Market Wagon is where we do everything now.”
“It’s been fun to support local producers and artisans,” says Market Wagon customer Amy McCormick. Not only that, McCormick says the program has increased her awareness of local farms. Since many of these producers are a one- or two-hour drive away, ordering from Market Wagon gives her more opportunities to buy their products than if she was trying to seek them out individually on her own.
