There’s a new way to shop the Cambridge Farmers’ Market. Beginning this week, many market vendors will now be available on a new online shop for quick and convenient pre-ordering.

Pre-ordering on the new platform will help ensure customers can buy their favourite or in-demand products in advance; and makes pick-up safer and more efficient by minimising contact and line-ups.

“Some of our vendors had been offering online sales on an individual basis during the pandemic, but this platform will allow us to group multiple vendors together in one convenient place,” says Market Manager Alix Aitken. “It will be exciting to watch the shop grow as vendors continue to join and add their products. This pre-order system will hopefully help support our vendors and expedite shopping times at the Market. ”

Shoppers can browse the online shop by either scrolling through all products or by searching for a specific vendor or product. The online shop will open each week on Monday at 8 a.m. and close on Thursday at midnight for same week pickup.

However, just like at the physical farmers’ market, individual vendors control if and when their products are available. For example, farmers may not know until mid-week if seasonal crops will be ready to harvest or how much they will have available, so they might not open their store until Tuesday. Similarly, bakers and chefs may need to close their shops earlier on Thursday to give them enough time to prepare orders. Shoppers are encouraged to contact vendors directly for special requests.

The pickup process for online orders will follow similar pandemic guidelines as in-person shopping. Customers will enter and leave the market area at the designated entrance and exit points, and follow the directional arrows. For contactless pick-up, the vendor will place the order on a table and step back for the shopper to pick it up.

To start browsing the online store and to set up an account, visit www.cambridgefarmersmarket.ca/online.

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Primary media contact

Erin Haase

Communications Advisor

City of Cambridge

Haasee@cambridge.ca