TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Local farmers are using the internet to better reach their customers.
For William Burgess, farming is not about what he's growing, but rather how he's teaching and bonding with his 8-year-old son.
"It's that father-son bonding basically. That's the main reason for having him work with me," said Burgess. "You try to be the biggest influence in his life, and I try to be a good influence in his life."
And that wholesome outlook is something Burgess hopes extends to the products he's providing to customers.
He's part of the Red Hills Small Farms Alliance, which formed in 2010 by a handful of farmers who needed a better way to get their produce to the community. They found the answer online.
"We got together, and said 'what is it that we'd like to have as a group?' the general consensus was we need a reliable market for our products," said Louise Divine, co-founder of Red Hills Small Farm Alliance. "This online format seemed to work the best because it works for everybody."
Using the Red Hills Online Market, nearly 50 local farmers are now selling their products to the community, while sharing ideas and experiences with other farmers.
"We communicate and swap ideas. I know William was saying they do a lot experimentation. We all do a lot of experimentation," said Bobby Holden, owner and operator of Grady Ranch. "As with anything, a lot of things you try don't work. We share that along with the successes."
The Red Hills Online Market allows for farmers to reach even more customers. Those customers are not only supporting their local farmers, but they're also getting exactly what they paid for.
"When somebody asks if they'd like to be a member of the Small Farm Alliance, and they'd like to sell through the online market, one of our other farmers will go and visit them, and get to know them and find out what they grow and how they grow, so that we know what we're selling is what they grow," said Divine.
The Red Hills Online Market is open for orders Sunday morning through Wednesday morning.
And then on Thursdays, farmers work to get the purchased products into customers' hands.
