BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Local farmers are being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. They're losing business from schools and institutions closing down, and from restaurants selling (and ordering) less food.
Erie County is stepping in to help local farmers sell their produce, meat and more with a program it's calling "Erie Grown."
The program encourages people to buy their food directly from local farms. It has launched a new website featuring a "Farm Locator Map" and a "Fresh Produce Finder."
The Farm Locator Map shows individual farms that are following COVID-19 safety guidelines and have products available to buy.
The Fresh Produce Finder allows users to search for local farms by selecting the produce they're looking for, from blueberries to corn and beyond.
There are 940 farms in Erie County. Of those, 96% are family-owned. Farms interested in joining Erie Grown can enroll here.
