Keeping it local: Sumter American Legion Farmers Market sees support swell amid grocery store shortages, pre-order system

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As group sizes diminished and nonessential businesses closed down, many farmers markets in the state followed suit as the coronavirus made it difficult for people to pick their own fruits and vegetables.

That's not the case for one of Sumter's newest local farmers markets. American Legion Farmers Market decided to work around the coronavirus rather than shut down its operation.

"We decided we're not going to let it shut us down," said Brittany Newman, manager of American Legion Farmers Market. "We just set up some tables, and I got out there and started taking orders. The first couple of weeks, we were just drive-up orders. We didn't have online."

As time went on, the farmers market got more and more popular, especially after Newman had the idea to do pre-orders online.

With the help of volunteers, the American Legion Farmers Market started its very own drive-through pick-up service last Friday, and it got more service than expected.

"This past Friday, it kind of exploded out of nowhere," Newman said. "Last Monday, I decided to post about some farm-share boxes, and people started ordering. By Wednesday morning, I had over 200 orders."

Newman said the market was so busy that there was a pileup from the corner of Artillery Drive and Liberty Street, going all the way down to Swan Lake-Iris Gardens. The Sumter Police Department ended up directing traffic to the farmers market.

"Chief [Russell] Roark showed up, and he helped us get it all straightened out. After about 20 minutes, we had all the traffic off of Liberty Street and in the fairgrounds," Newman said. "Some people said they were there for 45 minutes in the line, but everybody said it was totally worth it."

The volunteers at the farmers market felt overwhelmed, as they had more than they expected at last week's farmers market, but Newman said it was a good thing. The more they serve the community, the more the local farmers stay in business, especially when it comes to getting local produce and meats.

With grocery store shelves being cleared out and the aisles crowded, the farmers market wanted to provide for Sumter's needs. Whether it be fresh vegetables and fruits, meats, milk, bread or whatever else, local farmers made it available.

"I really hope people are opening their eyes to the farmers around their community and supporting them," Newman said.

Russell Singleton, assistant manager for the farmers market, was taking his pigs to Kingstree on Monday to get processed as orders for meat keep coming in at the market.

"People were telling me they can't find pork chops in the store," Singleton said. "Personally, I didn't think people would be that receptive because people like to touch produce. I was wrong."

Usually, people are choosing which vegetables and fruits themselves, while also negotiating prices, according to Singleton. However, he's seen people change, as they now are buying a box filled with whatever they can get.

Though this is a new way of selling his products, Singleton didn't mind making the change because he, along with other local farmers, has to make ends meet like everyone else in these hard times.

"I'm not big enough to supply grocery chains," Singleton said. "It's been a lot of work and a lot of change and figuring out new things, like how to accept online payments."

Thanks to technology, the American Legion Farmers Market was able to create a website and Facebook page where customers can place orders and use apps like Venmo, Cash App and more to make online payments, according to Singleton. He said paying and ordering ahead of time makes the drive-through go much faster and reduces person-to-person contact, as well, because volunteers place the box directly in the vehicle.

"It has helped us wonderfully to stay in business and also help our morale that the public is behind this and supporting us," Singleton said.

From wearing masks and gloves to being stocked on hand sanitizer, market workers have been taking necessary precautions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep customers healthy as they continue to support local farmers.

"We are sanitizing everything as it comes in," Newman said. "We do our best not to touch too much when we're filling the boxes."

For more information or to volunteer, call Brittany Newman at (803) 983-3249, or visit www.americanlegionfarmersmarket.com/.