Indiana farmers markets now on-demand digitally

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The season for farmers markets unofficially kicked off the first week of May in central Indiana, and the year started with an expansion of shopping options that includes online ordering.

A new company in central Indiana is making it possible for consumers to pick produce and other products without leaving home.

Indianapolis based FarmersMarket.com launched in early 2015.

The startup has attracted more than 50 vendors and counting that list goods on the digital marketplace.

Customers will browse products from multiple farmers and artisans to compile one order to either be picked up that week at a nearby market or delivered to their home.

The site is exclusive to a nine county region to increase accessibility of local food and provide a business opportunity for farmers, according to the site’s co-founder and CEO Nick Carter.

“(Farmers) want to grow real food but the problem is they have to have a place to sell it,” Carter said. “They can go and sell this food that they’re producing for their neighbors, for the community that they live in now they can actually change their (agriculture) practices and start growing sustainable food.”

The company has said it is prepared to compete with the growing concept of online grocery shopping by larger operations.

“Online grocery is definitely taking off, everything from Kroger to Instacart and Amazon. What we have that’s different is all of our products are sourced locally,” Carter said.

The website is planned to be available year round to provide seasonal offerings and those by vendors whose products are not limited to times of year.