The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project organized the market, located on the campus of A-B Tech, in response to COVID-19-related farmers market closures. This new market is designed to protect shoppers and vendors by maintaining social distances and mitigating potential virus transmission points. 

“We’ve got hundreds of farmers and vendors and thousands of community members that rely on these markets for livelihood and healthy fresh food,” said ASAP Executive Director Charlie Jackson. “We’ve got to be able to continue to produce food here and farmers have to get paid. This market creates the new model that will let us continue to have a robust and sustaining food system even in the most trying of times.”

The number of shoppers in the market area at one time will be tightly controlled. Staff will direct shoppers to queue inside their vehicles until it’s their turn to enter the market. Vendors will remain at least 6 feet from shoppers and other vendors at all times. Customers will select pre-packaged or bunched items and will not handle other products on vendor tables. No vendor or shopper who is experiencing illness or exhibiting flu-like symptoms of any kind will be allowed to enter the market. 

To minimize potential virus transmission points, purchases must be paid online at asapconnections.org after shopping, based on an honor system. All pre-bagged or bunched products will have prices clearly marked. SNAP/EBT will be accepted via voucher forms, available at the market. Double SNAP will not be offered at this time. ASAP will cover the risk for honor system payments, and farmers will be paid in full for all product sold. Customers will have the option to donate toward operational costs and shortages. 

“We’re relying on the honesty and generosity of shoppers to make this work,” said Jackson. 

The market will operate for as long as necessary, possibly expanding to other locations and days of the week as opportunity and demand allows. Farmers interested in participating may apply at www.asap.org.