Paseo Farmers Market Finds Success Through Online Ordering

The Paseo Farmers Market pivoted to online ordering during the COVID-19 pandemic and vendors are finding more success than previously thought.

Farmers market staff is taking pre-orders online and allowing customers pick up their items drive-thru style outside the Red Rooster.

Paseo Farmers Market owner and operator Megan Sisco said when they first formed the plan, she had no clue how successful it would be.

"But from the very first weekend, it's been a lot more people than we anticipated," Sisco said.  

Customers can go online to a central online checkout store that features all their vendors.

"We have a wide variety of local produce growers,” Sisco said. “We have meat vendors. We're partnering with the Red Rooster who is selling a ton of pre-made goods.”

There are local businesses who are also selling household essentials. Customers can go online Monday through Thursday to pre-order. Those orders are prepared Friday and Saturday.

Customers can walk or drive up Sunday morning to receive their items contact-free.

"Most of our vendors are seeing tripled the sales they would at the in-person market," Sisco said. "Just individual customer orders are very large as if they are doing all of their shopping at the farmer's market."

Because of the success, the owner said this new way of business is the future for their market.

"We will maintain this online market even when the regular market reopens just because it is so great for people," Sisco said.

The market has brought on new vendors and are still taking applications.