Woodland Park hosts drive-thru farmer’s market to help struggling vendors

WOODLAND PARK, Colo. (KRDO) -- While there are fewer customers this year, the manager of the Woodland Park farmer's market added a drive-thru option to give a boost to local vendors.

"Basically we wanted to make sure everybody knows that we will have a market whatever happens," said Judy Crummet, manager of Woodland Park's farmer's market. "We'll find a way to do it. We're asking everybody to wear masks and gloves."

For some, farming is already a tricky business where you hope weather will be in your favor. But this year, the coronavirus adds another challenge affecting the demand for their products. Many of these farmers supply their produce to restaurants. And unfortunately, those have been closed for a while, creating a ripple effect.

"It's about probably a 70 percent drop in business," said Tom Lowman, the owner and vendor with Teeny Greenz. "The folks that use my stuff have gone to different business models like curbside and delivery. That doesn't use as much of my product as a sit-down restaurant would."

Many are adapting through community supported agriculture. It works like a members ship -- customers sign up and in return get a box with the owner's seasonal produce each week.

Vendors are staying hopeful that people will come out to support them.

"It's hard as a business to take that hit, but I also want everybody else to be safe," said Megan Deaton, owner of Megan's Mushrooms. "I think we have a really nice setup where we figured out something where can be safe and still get our product out."

As Teller County waits for a response on its variance request, the farmers are hoping an approval would mean more business.