Farm in Gap Switches Gears Amidst Pandemic, Starts Selling Directly to Consumers

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Green Meadow Farm partners Ian Brendle (left) and his father, Glenn. Image and caption via The Philadelphia Inquirer.

When the pandemic hit, Gap’s Green Meadow Farm, a renowned source of specialty produce in the region, saw its deliveries drop from 53 restaurants one week to just seven the next, writes Craig LaBan for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

To offset the losses, owners Ian Brendle and his father, Glenn, decided to transform the farm’s wholesale operation into a direct-to-consumer CSA.

It was the right move, as the lack of available restaurants prompted people to start cooking more at home. This made the rare agricultural treasures the farm produces to become premium goods for many households, and hundreds of customers rushed to sign on with the new CSA within the first month.

The logistical shift from selling to restaurants to directly selling to customers was not easy, but the family made it work.

“You figure it out or, you know, you lose the farm,” said the younger Brendle, a seventh-generation farmer.

Since the original shutdown, the farm’s restaurant trade has gradually bounced back. Still, many home-chefs in the region are hoping the farm’s direct-to-consumer sales will continue to enrich their cooking for a long time.

Read more about Green Meadow Farm in The Philadelphia Inquirer here.

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