The North Coast Food Web is hosting a virtual market during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the North Coast Food Web converted its weekly farm stand into an online marketplace.

The shift was made last June, and after trial and error, the online platform ultimately generated more vendors and sales.

Caitlin Seyfried, the program’s manager at the food web, said the online platform makes it easier for more vendors to participate. Customers can pay by credit card and food stamps as opposed to just cash or check.

People can register on the nonprofit’s website and shop between Sunday and Tuesday. Farmers drop off their products at the food web on Thursday mornings. Volunteers pack the orders for pick-up between 3 and 6 p.m.

Depending on the season, shoppers can find eggs, fruit, vegetables, mushrooms, meat, seafood, plants, prepared foods, pickled and canned products, tea, coffee and baked goods.

Seyfried said there are pros and cons to the new model. People cannot talk to the farmers and interact outside.

“But it’s a lot easier for the farmers because they don’t have to sit there for six hours at a market,” Seyfried said. “And it’s easier for the customers too because they can order online and know exactly what they are getting.”

There has been some thought about continuing a variation of the online marketplace post-pandemic.

“There’s a lot of reasons why this model works a little better for us,” Seyfried said. “And there are still questions like, next year, in 2022, will we move to a hybrid where there is online ordering but also some pop up tents outside for farmers to get both of those things?

“But right now we’re just like sticking to this,” she said. “We’ve still got our hands full with figuring out exactly the best way to do it.”