Loudoun Farms Invited to Join New E-Commerce Marketplace to Connect With Virtual Customers
Loudoun County’s farm-to-consumer experience has gone digital with the launch of the “Loudoun Made, Loudoun Grown Marketplace,” an e-commerce platform that offers a one-stop-shop for consumers to support local farms.
The marketplace is live to the public at LoudounFarms.org/Marketplace and is a key part of the new Take Loudoun Home marketing campaign, a joint promotional effort with Visit Loudoun and the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce.
Vendor opportunities are open to any Loudoun farm or rural business with a direct-to-consumer business model that joins Loudoun Economic Development’s “Loudoun Made, Loudoun Grown” program.
Fill out an application at the bottom of this page, or at biz.loudoun.gov/marketplace.
“This is the perfect tool at the perfect time, safely connecting customers and farm businesses at a time when social distancing requires a change in protocol,” Loudoun Economic Development’s Executive Director Buddy Rizer explained. “For customers, access to fresh, local food helps feed families and enhance our sense of community. For businesses, this is a lifeline that helps pay the bills, improves efficiency, and keeps everyone safe.”
Once farms and businesses join the Loudoun Made, Loudoun Grown program and opt into the marketplace, they will be sent an invite to join the Local Line platform. Once accepted, farms can set granular details on product availability; ordering timelines and deadlines; fees; pick-up, delivery or drop-off participation and more.
Each vendor chooses their methods of delivery and pickup options for consumers. We are working with local companies on securing delivery options and community pick-up points that will be in compliance with all federal, state and local guidelines. A centralized pilot pick-up location at the Ag District in Middleburg is available on Wednesdays and Sundays starting the weekend of April 26.
Each farm vendor will be in charge of their own participation, information, and will receive payments directly from customers via their existing Square or Stripe accounts.
Membership typically costs $20-60 per business, per month, but Loudoun Economic Development is sponsoring all participant signups for at least the first six months of the Marketplace (April through September). If farms wish to continue with the Marketplace after that, they can continue at the marketplace rate of $20 per month.
Already a member of Local Line? Provide us with your farm information and we’ll send you an invite to join the Loudoun Made, Loudoun Grown Marketplace.
If you have any questions, please contact Rural Business Development Manager Chris Blosser.
Business Name (This is how your farm will be listed on the site):* Farm Contact*FirstLast Phone:* Area Code – Phone Number Email:* Farm Address* Street Address City State / Province / Region Postal / Zip Code Are you a Loudoun, VA Made • Loudoun, VA Grown Program participant?*YesNoA requirement to be able to participate in the Marketplace is to be a Loudoun, VA Made • Loudoun, VA Grown™ Program participant. Upon completing this Marketplace sign-up, please complete the Loudoun, VA Made • Loudoun, VA Grown Program application. (The link will open in a new tab.)
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