Bloomington Farmers’ Market opens virtually amid coronavirus pandemic

BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Farmers’ Market is open for the season, but because of coronavirus, the shopping experience is different than before.

Now, shoppers buy online and drive-through for pickup orders.

Organizers say 46 vendors are part of this new effort with hundreds of products for sale.

Vendors online offer the same products as the in-person market: fruit, vegetables, meat, cheese, eggs, pastries, coffee, flowers and more.

Customers shop by product or by vendor. After creating an account and filling a virtual cart, customers pay by credit card online and pick up orders in-person on Saturdays. Customers can also pay with SNAP benefits when picking up.

Orders must be in by the end of Thursday—customers cannot shop on site.

At pickup, customers remain in their car while staff load the already-bagged purchases.

Pickup times are based on last name:

• Switchyard Park, 1601 S. Rogers St., Bloomington
• Saturday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Specific times:

• 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Pickup for last names beginning with A-H
• 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Pickup for last names beginning with I-P
• 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Pickup for last names beginning with Q-Z

Organizers say, once life returns to normal, they will re-open the traditional farmers’ market.