FarmDrop featured on ABC7 News in Bangor
Online farmers market connects farmers and consumers
January 31, 2022
NEWPORT — Startup company, FarmDrop, originated in Blue Hill in 2011. The online farmers market helps connect farmers and consumers in Maine and New York.
“It’s a way for producers to sell their products online and for customers to be able to shop from all their favorite producers and pick up once a week in a central location near them,” said Hannah Semler, CEO and co-founder of FarmDrop.
Semler said this provides businesses an alternative to bringing items to in-person farmers markets.
Abraham’s Goat Farm and Creamery in Newport has been using FarmDrop for about a year and a half now.
“You don’t have to carry coolers and tents to farmers markets. That’s the best. That was the huge selling point for us,” said Kaili Wardwell, co-owner of the creamery.
Wardwell said FarmDrop has really assisted Abraham’s Creamery in getting the word out about their products.
“We produce a product locally here and drop it to a hub near us, and then it gets spread out in different webs. Different farmers go to different locations,” Wardwell said.
They said this helps the customers as well.
“We can get our products out to people that can’t drive to Newport or they don’t want to go to the store. We pretty much bring it to their community,” said Lou Harris, co-owner of the creamery.
According to Semler, FarmDrop is now looking to expand to the southwest portion of the country.
“We need more market hubs and more customers to be able to continue to run the FarmDrop system for our market hubs and our farms, but we also want to solve for local food systems and different communities,” said Semler.
She said FarmDrop allows farmers to reach new markets they may not have otherwise.
To get involved with FarmDrop as a farmer or customer, you can visit farmdrop.us.