COVID-19 Open Calls
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Operational Resources
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Mobile Market Network Open Calls on COVID-19 Responses
Since mid-April, the Veggie Van Study team in collaboration with the Mobile Market Network has hosted a weekly open call for operators to share information, strategies, and support with individuals facing similar challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we settle into the reality of the pandemic, we have opted to switch our meetings to a bi-weekly format starting in July.
To receive information on joining the calls (along with other pertinent information), please join the Mobile Market Network by subscribing to our Google Group.
To receive information on joining the calls (along with other pertinent information), please join the Mobile Market Network by subscribing to our Google Group.
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November 23, 2020Matt Kleinmann, PhD candidate at University of Kansas and co-director of Dotte Agency, speaks on the USDA Farmers to Family Food Box program as well as some of the pivots their mobile market has made during the pandemic.
November 9, 2020An open-forum style call where the following topics were discussed: winter models, shifting to a delivery model, different types of software being used for online ordering, and possible solutions for sourcing challenges.
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September 14, 2020An open-forum style call where the following topics were discussed: how to acquire location areas or sites for mobile markets, building relationships with community members, how to work with the neighborhood or community members to support mobile markets, and possible ideas for the future mobile market summit.
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August 31, 2020An open-forum style call where the following topics were discussed: preparing for cooler weather markets while still practicing social distancing, sourcing during the fall/winter seasons, loyalty programs, and designing boxes or bundles for maximum acceptability.
August 20, 2020An open forum-style call talking about USDA Farm to Family Food Boxes distribution issues and recent changes, including the need for refrigerated storage/delivery due to meat and dairy options. We also discuss ways to engage your mobile market customers from a distance through activities, raffles, and other approaches.
August 6, 2020As part of the Veggie Van Toolkit Webinar Series (presented by Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Foundation), Roberta Cosentino, Fresh2You Mobile Market Manager, Chester County Food Bank (PA) provided us with insights from operating the Fresh2You Mobile Market this summer while observing state regulations on social distancing. She shared experiences and strategies from this season's operations during the pandemic, and answered questions on logistics and best practices. Especially helpful are Roberta's photos and videos of market operations.
July 23, 2020Discussion on local mask requirements and how mobile markets are enforcing masking rules at their market, as well as information on the role mobile markets can play in distributing USDA Farmers to Families Food boxes. The topics of text-based ordering and volunteer distribution coordination using technology were also discussed in this context.
June 29, 2020More updates on operational markets and questions from new markets or interested organizations on operational details fielded by our experienced market operators
June 22, 2020As part of the Veggie Van Toolkit Webinar Series (presented by Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Foundation), Jordyn Appel, Program Director of the Local Motive Mobile Farmers Market (Feast Down East) serving Wilmington, NC, provides a presentation of her market's operational plan and provides on-the-ground experiences of implementation over the past month of the pandemic.
June 15, 2020Florence Clemmons of Foodlink in Rochester, NY provides details of their traditional farmers market and food distribution programs re-opening, as well as upcoming pilots of their mobile Curbside Market and the plans employed to execute these pilots. General market Q&A and updates from other operational markets.
June 8, 2020Market operational updates and related Q&A, including operational plans and details of physical plans for operations; an increasing number of markets are preparing to re-open or have re-opened at this point.
June 1, 2020More updates from operating mobile markets, as well as how distributing USDA Farmers to Families food boxes has been going for those organizations doing so. Discussion of operations for those markets preparing to open in the coming weeks.
May 18, 2020Updates from markets who have started operating, or are planning to launch their market shortly. Also, discussion of distributing USDA Farmers to Families food boxes in conjunction with market operations, as well as other free food distribution programs made available during the pandemic.
May 6, 2020Discussion on sourcing, including receiving commodity boxes via the USDA Farmers to Families Food Distribution Program. We continued talking about the Farmers' Truck SMS ordering system in development in cooperation with mobile market operators. Operational details from mobile markets preparing to launch in the coming weeks.
April 29, 2020Our third open call on mobile market responses to COVID-19 includes discussion of an SMS-based ordering system for those who are unable to access the internet. Frederic LaForge of the Farmers Truck is spearheading the effort and is looking for mobile market participants for the pilot program. We also continue our conversation on establishing a Mobile Market Coalition.
April 22, 2020Our second open call for mobile market operators regarding operational challenges during COVID-19. Topics include transitioning to online ordering models, reaching your community when the majority of your customers are not online, and the establishment of a Mobile Market Coalition.
April 15, 2020Our first open call for mobile market operators to share strategies, barriers, and successes to operating and or opening their markets during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Erin Close, Mobile Market Director, Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture shares her operations plan for running the Arcadia Mobile Market in adherence to Washington, DC safety guidelines. |
Developing Market Protocols for Operating During the COVID-19 Pandemic
As state and local restrictions evolve in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, so must the operations of mobile markets to ensure the health and safety of market employees and the general public. Below please find a curated list of resources for developing a COVID-19 operational plan (updated 8/26/2020):
North Carolina State Extension
Arcadia Mobile Market, Washington, D.C.
Local Motive Mobile Farmers' Market, Feast Down East, Burgaw, NC
NY State Department of Agriculture and Markets
Farmers Market Coalition
Food and Drug Administration
USDA Farmers to Families Food Distribution Box
University of Minnesota Extension Small Farms
North Carolina State Extension
- Guidance Document for SNAP-Authorized Retailers in North Carolina: Information on pre-orders, curbside pick-up, and other operational details related to accepting SNAP/EBT in North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although state-specific, this is a good resource for all markets developing protocols around processing payments using EBT equipment and services.
Arcadia Mobile Market, Washington, D.C.
- Arcadia Mobile Market COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan: Erin Close, Mobile Market Director, Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture developed the first outdoor market approved by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser during the COVID-19 shutdown (this is the full presentation from our first open call).
- Arcadia Coronavirus Policies and Program Information: Arcadia's resource website for mobile market operators, customers, and community members provides both information and a model for developing a similar page for your customers and community to seek information about your mobile market during the pandemic.
Local Motive Mobile Farmers' Market, Feast Down East, Burgaw, NC
- Local Motive's Public Health and Safety Operational Guide is a great resource for mobile markets looking to develop their own COVID-19 operational plans; including in the guide is volunteer roles, staff responsibilities and protocols, and market workflows and spatial models. Thanks to Jordyn Appel, the Local Motive Program Director, for sharing the resource!
NY State Department of Agriculture and Markets
- Interim Guidance for the Operation of Farmers' Markets (updated May 22, 2020)
- Interim Guidance for Grocery Home Deliveries and Ecommerce Grocery Home Deliveries
Farmers Market Coalition
- Recorded Webinar on Farmers Market Physical Redesign for COVID-19 Mitigation: Farmers market operators are among those leading for how local food is meeting this historic moment including “drive-thru” models, delayed entry, pre-bagged goods, new layouts and more. For this webinar, market operators shared how they actually implemented a new COVID-19 practice through the physical redesign of market spaces.
- FMC's Best Practices, Examples, and Resources Webpage
Food and Drug Administration
USDA Farmers to Families Food Distribution Box
- The recently-approved Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program includes this new program to partner with regional and local distributors to purchase and distribute $3 billion of agricultural products to those in need. If your organization is facing issues working with suppliers during COVID-19, you may want to stay abreast of this program; commodity boxes will be produced by funded aggregators and disseminated via non-profit and other food security agencies. The RFP and supporting information can be found at the USDA website.
University of Minnesota Extension Small Farms
- UM provides a very basic and affordable way to set up a handwashing station for use at your mobile market. This may be useful if you are using a choice model:
Farmers' Market Federation of NY
- The Farmers' Market Open Together Launch Kit is a full print and web resource for signage and marketing specific to operating a farmers' market during COVID-19, including social distancing protocols and public health initiatives. 29 Design Studio in the Finger Lakes Region of NY partnered with FMFNY and member markets to design market signage, web announcements, and other resources that can be printed/used free of charge.
Resources for Moving Your Market Online
Mobile markets are increasingly adopting comprehensive web presences, including online ordering, to observe social distancing measures. Below please find some resources for developing your market's web presence, and setting up ordering online:
Cornell Cooperative Extension, St. Lawrence County
Local Matters Veggie Van, Columbus, OH
Cornell Cooperative Extension, St. Lawrence County
- Recorded Webinar on E-commerce: Selling Food Online: No matter what you want to sell, there is a way to do it online. But how do you figure out what works for your business? From tickets to CSA shares, from bookings to physical products, we'll talk about some of the questions you'll be prompted to answer as you set your business up to sell online. Workshop will include case studies from other farms and food businesses and how they decided what they needed for effective ecommerce.
- Intro to E-commerce handout
- National Young Farmers Coalition Direct Sales Software Platforms
- More information on CCE-St. Lawrence's technical support webinar series for food businesses, including registration for their next webinar on increasing online visibility.
Local Matters Veggie Van, Columbus, OH
- The Local Matters team has launched an online store for their Veggie Van mobile market. Check out their website here!
COVID-19 Food Systems Resources
Local Food Systems Respond to COVID: Building Better Beyond
- Searchable resource hub for businesses, services, and municipal food systems operating during the pandemic
Please note: the above resources are by no means comprehensive, and any suggestions for additions to this list, or content generated by mobile market operators that can be shared via this site, can be directed to contactus@myveggievan.org. We will be updating regularly as we continue to review the available resources; our goal is to not overwhelm with information, but instead curate those sources found to be most helpful for mobile market operators without replication. Please defer to your local and state health departments and departments of agriculture for full, up to date guidelines that apply to your market. Thank you!