Farms Provide During Hardship

Story and photos by Andrea Haines

Journeying the hills of the lower Shenandoah Valley, a traveler comes across many orchard groves and fields of green. Hard-to-miss signs of fresh eggs, newly plucked cherries, and homegrown products almost pull you into the farm lane like a magnet set to its target. Busy shoppers pop in and out from the walls of the open-air market, like honeybees to a hive with baskets full of beautiful produce and local treasures from Orr’s Farm Market of Martinsburg, West Virginia.

However, things are obviously different right now; all throughout the store you can find signs of an uptick in safety for their customers and staff. Sanitizer available and gloves worn, Plexiglas screens at checkouts, cars lined up at drive-up spots awaiting staff to roll out heaping carts of products for delivery curbside — all precautions due to pandemic standards.

All over the country, farm markets are seeing a boost in customer numbers due to the novel COVID-19 virus. Grocery stores struggling to keep up with the pandemic demand has driven shoppers to the curbside stands and farm markets. “The outpouring of support and love from our community has been amazing,” shares Katy Orr-Dove, general manager overseeing the farm market, personal relations, accounting, and purchasing. “I am very blessed to have a strong team of staff members who couldn’t have been more supportive. They really gave out a ‘warm welcome’ for guests.”

The approach of the pandemic was a bit scary for businesses, but the market rallied with a plan. “Initially, we were ahead of the game. We have a son with asthma, and therefore have taken all of the precautions really seriously,” says Katy. “March was daunting because we knew we needed the income to keep our staff working and to prepare for the 2020 fruit harvest season. We needed the market to stay open in some capacity as it’s our only source of income in the spring months. The first decision was going to a curbside service set up.”

The market is already two years into a system that tracks sales and inventory online. This allowed the family to extend services with a drive-up window. Many precautionary needs like shelving, safe distancing, and masks were implemented upon each CDC announcement. Katy says, “We are wiping down carts and baskets, cleaning routines have been in overdrive. We have started morning meetings with staff where we ask about exposure to the virus and symptoms, temperature testing them before working.”

Re-routing the consumer demand to certain hours has changed, too. “The pick-your-own reservations came when they lifted the restrictions on non-essential businesses,” she shares. “We started offering ‘pick-your-own by reservation’ to space customers out more than normal.” Katy mentions, “On a typical Saturday in May, hundreds of people come and go ‘at will’. I wanted a way to limit how many would come at once.”

"Watching and hearing the customers’ fears about their food supply running out was a real wake-up call. I was able to comfort them with the promise that we would not run out of food this season”

The market has been working handin-hand with other suppliers in the area. While local meat suppliers were having difficulty handling large quantities of orders, other suppliers were looking for markets to move their products due to the cancellation of restaurant orders.

“I love that our customers are not just supporting our market but lots of other local farmers, too!”, shares Katy. Most of the market needs were already met when it comes to ordering preparatory product. “Luckily, we had already pre-ordered and received our seeds,” shares Mark Orr, active owner, and in charge of orchard and garden production, pests, harvesting, and general maintenance of the orchards. “We expanded what we purchased from others to help prevent customers from having to go to the grocery stores.”

Katy adds, “I’ve never felt the call to farm more strongly than I did this March. Watching and hearing the customers’ fears about their food supply running out was a real wake-up call. I was able to comfort them with the promise that we would not run out of food this season.”

While changes need to be made to the market, financials are also on the forefront of a businessperson’s mind. “Farm Credit has been very accommodating about restructuring some of our current loans,” shares Don Dove, general manager overseeing areas of sales, commercial packing, insurance, and maintenance. “This made us feel like we had a do-able plan of action that was based off our cash flow. Our loan officer has been supportive and has also been approachable, and it’s been easy to communicate.”

Farm Credit loan officer Jessica Harris shares, “The Orr family has been very considerate to their community during this troubling time. It has been tough for everyone during this pandemic and we are happy to help adjust plans as needed.”

“I hope consumers understand how hard we have all been working to make sure that their food supply is strong this year,” says Katy. “I hope they appreciate the American-grown produce and try to buy from their local farms. I had many customers tell me that they noticed a huge quality difference in our products and would continue to purchase from us even after the pandemic was over.”

Check out Orr’s Farm Market online at orrsfarmmarket.com, or follow them on social media: Facebook @Orrs-Farm-Market, Twitter @orrsfarmmarket, Instagram @orrsfarmmarket