THE HONEYCOMB COLLABORATIVE
Photo credit: Paul Bela |
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THE NASHVILLE FARMERS' MARKET March, 2020
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It’s been studied at length: a healthy diet strengthens your immune system. But even in the midst of a pandemic, the people who provide healthy food are hurting. Vendors at the Farmers Market in Nashville say not being able to stay open is terrible for their businesses, but they're still happy to provide some of their product to locals thanks to a new drive-through option. Saturday morning there was so much traffic outside you’d have no idea it’s not business as usual.
"It’s a bright spot in the midst of everything that's going on to see the incredible response we've gotten from the community,” explains Executive Director Tasha Kennard. “Many of our farmers had over 50 orders.”
Kennard says it’s a little relief for farmers already hurting from the Coronavirus pandemic- like Charles Pecka of Morning Star Farms.
"The impact of the Coronavirus has actually decimated our wholesale business,” says Pecka. “Two-thirds of our income generally comes from wholesale, now that went to zero.” But some business is still better than no business- every little bit helps, including these drive-through orders.
“Farmers are still farming and bakers are still baking, and we need to support this local economy,” says Kennard.
The underlying message from farmers: we're all in this together, and will get through these uncertain times by supporting one another. “We are just like you. We have all the same worries and fears. We're here for you- come out here help me, help our friends, feed our people,” pleads Pecka.
The Nashville Farmers Market will be open for drive-through every Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. until they’re given the green-light to re-open to in-person customers.
"It’s a bright spot in the midst of everything that's going on to see the incredible response we've gotten from the community,” explains Executive Director Tasha Kennard. “Many of our farmers had over 50 orders.”
Kennard says it’s a little relief for farmers already hurting from the Coronavirus pandemic- like Charles Pecka of Morning Star Farms.
"The impact of the Coronavirus has actually decimated our wholesale business,” says Pecka. “Two-thirds of our income generally comes from wholesale, now that went to zero.” But some business is still better than no business- every little bit helps, including these drive-through orders.
“Farmers are still farming and bakers are still baking, and we need to support this local economy,” says Kennard.
The underlying message from farmers: we're all in this together, and will get through these uncertain times by supporting one another. “We are just like you. We have all the same worries and fears. We're here for you- come out here help me, help our friends, feed our people,” pleads Pecka.
The Nashville Farmers Market will be open for drive-through every Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. until they’re given the green-light to re-open to in-person customers.
VENDORS LOSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, 2/3 OF INCOME AS EVENTS CANCEL, BUSINESSES CLOSE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Vendors and artisans are struggling to stay afloat as events and festivals get canceled and nonessential businesses close.
The owner of Tennessee Artisan Honey - Carol Hagen - says her business is losing two-thirds of its income, and expects other vendors are in the same boat. That means Hagen and other vendors are having to get a little creative when it comes to bringing in a cash stream.
Hagen says she wants to partner with other vendors to create a home delivery service, so you get meat or veggies with your honey order.
Another vendor, Kelly Shamblin – owner of LavenderGirlTN—is making hand sanitizer to help keep her store afloat.
“We were forced to sort of reinvent ourselves by using stuff we already had here,” Shamblin said. Shamblin says she’s had about 8 locations impacted by COVID-19, and recently had 3 events cancelled where she was planning on selling products. The events alone are costing her about $10,000, she estimates.
Hagen says she imagines businesses will have to get creative to sell their products. "There’s no telling how long this will take,” Hagen said. “I think that businesses are going to have to pivot; they’re going to have to look for opportunities where they didn’t imagine they had a market.”
There’s a broader impact here too. If vendors start to fail, so do places like the Nashville Farmers’ Market. They’ve waived rent for the month of April for businesses that use their space, but that puts a strain on the market itself. The executive director said they had some financial wiggle room, and were able to pull this off, though, because they know the vendors are struggling.
“They’re used to being able to access thousands of customers a week, and now they’re having to go find those customers in other ways,” Tasha Kennard, Executive Director of the Nashville Farmers’ Market said.
The market is doing a drive thru version on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. until noon through April. That could be extended. Customers are encouraged to pre-order online through each vendor.
The owner of Tennessee Artisan Honey - Carol Hagen - says her business is losing two-thirds of its income, and expects other vendors are in the same boat. That means Hagen and other vendors are having to get a little creative when it comes to bringing in a cash stream.
Hagen says she wants to partner with other vendors to create a home delivery service, so you get meat or veggies with your honey order.
Another vendor, Kelly Shamblin – owner of LavenderGirlTN—is making hand sanitizer to help keep her store afloat.
“We were forced to sort of reinvent ourselves by using stuff we already had here,” Shamblin said. Shamblin says she’s had about 8 locations impacted by COVID-19, and recently had 3 events cancelled where she was planning on selling products. The events alone are costing her about $10,000, she estimates.
Hagen says she imagines businesses will have to get creative to sell their products. "There’s no telling how long this will take,” Hagen said. “I think that businesses are going to have to pivot; they’re going to have to look for opportunities where they didn’t imagine they had a market.”
There’s a broader impact here too. If vendors start to fail, so do places like the Nashville Farmers’ Market. They’ve waived rent for the month of April for businesses that use their space, but that puts a strain on the market itself. The executive director said they had some financial wiggle room, and were able to pull this off, though, because they know the vendors are struggling.
“They’re used to being able to access thousands of customers a week, and now they’re having to go find those customers in other ways,” Tasha Kennard, Executive Director of the Nashville Farmers’ Market said.
The market is doing a drive thru version on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. until noon through April. That could be extended. Customers are encouraged to pre-order online through each vendor.