LAKEPORT, Calif. – With the farmers' market season now over, the community will say goodbye until next year to the bustling open-air markets that kept kitchens full of fresh, healthy, locally grown fruits and vegetables.

However, a new service is now available in Lake County that will allow consumers, businesses, hospitals, jails, restaurants, schools and other industries to conveniently purchase local, fresh produce on a weekly basis year-round.

Marc Hooper, chairman of www.lakecountygrown.com, a partnership of local growers, agencies and the local Farm Bureau, is enthusiastic about the launch of the online farmers’ market concept.

An idea that has been building momentum in communities throughout California, the online farmers’ market is just another way to encourage healthy eating and support our local farmers throughout the year.

Shopping at the virtual farmers’ market is very simple, or “EASY”:

• E – Enter the online marketplace at www.lakecountygrown.com for quick access to a wide variety of fresh, locally grown produce.

• A – All participating local growers will harvest their produce Wednesday and Thursday and list it online.

• S – So you can place your orders from Thursday at 6 p.m. through Tuesday at noon; no order is too small. Products are grouped in varying size for purchase by the general consumer and for institutional purchase.

• Y – You can pick up your purchase between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursdays at Mt Konocti Growers. Direct delivery options are available for large institutional orders.

The pilot test of www.lakecountygrown.com began in August with a group of 12 growers and 12 consumers representing a wide variety of potential customers. All participants went through the entire process, including delivery, pick up and purchasing.

“All participants were very pleased at how easy the online system is to use,” said Hooper. “The system really exceeded our expectations.”

The committee will be inviting all certified Lake County growers to participate, which will offer Lake County consumers an even wider variety of locally grown, healthy produce to select from.

The committee is adamant that only growers who are certified by the agricultural commissioner as Lake County growers will be allowed to participate. The system will not be opened to any growers outside the county.

The online ordering system is one component of a California Department of Food and Agriculture grant awarded to Lake County Health Services in 2009.

The purpose of the grant is to increase Lake County consumption and production of specialty crops, which include vegetables, fruit and tree nuts.

The online ordering system is being developed through collaboration among Lake County Health Services, the Health Leadership Network and Lake County Farm Bureau.

“This online ordering system offers exceptional access to healthy, fresh produce,” said Susan Jen, director of the Health Leadership Network. “It supports the vitality of our community in two important ways: by making it easy for everyone to access nutritious, wholesome food and by boosting our economy via support of local farmers.”

Look for the “Eat Fresh, Buy Lake County Grown” that denotes various ways this project is striving to promote the vibrant health of our community.

For more information on the online ordering system, visit www.lakecountygrown.com.

 

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