ELYRIA TOWNSHIP, Ohio — During this health crisis, some shoppers are avoiding the supermarkets and are going straight to the source for their food supplies.

  • The Ketcham's small farm is doing well, but many farms are not
  • According to a survey, 65 percent of those involved in Ohio's food supply system have been negatively impacted by the pandemic
  • Ketcham says the health crisis gives famers an opportunity to introduce people to fresh, locally-grown food

“Our egg sales have actually been through the roof, faster, we have a waiting list now where we never had a waiting list and we have more people interested in our fresh veggies once they start coming," said Dan Ketcham, Elyria Township farmer 

Dan and Jenny Ketcham, along with their daughter Alaina, operate On Our Hidden Acre Farm in Elyria Township. They grow produce, raise chickens and other poultry. and have a small bee farm.  

Dan Ketcham says during this health crisis it now gives farmers an opportunity to introduce people to fresh locally-grown food.  

“We’ve had to grow our business model based on, in essence, the pandemic, because now we need to have more supply because we are trying to get more people so that they understand what fresh and what local really does mean, versus trying to go to a big box store," he said.

The Ketcham’s small farm is doing well, but many farms are not. According to a survey by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation,  65 percent of those involved in Ohio’s food supply system have been negatively or very negatively impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

"Almost every aspect of Ohio agriculture is being negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but farmers are resourceful when it comes to finding ways to market their products," said Ty Higgins, Ohio Farm Bureau director of media. "Our members that already sell directly to consumers are seeing a spike in their sales and more farmers are looking at direct to consumer marketing as an option."

Due to the spring snow, some fields have not been prepped or planted. However, Dan Ketcham says you can plant other crops until the weather changes for the better.

“And the good thing is there is an opportunity for everybody to go out and actually start growing stuff now. There 's short-cycle foods such as lettuces, radishes... the list goes on of about 8 to 10 different crops that everybody can do now. We have them growing, so unfortunately we are not able to supply them for anybody else right now," he said.

To buy some of the products at On Our Hidden Acre, you can shop on their Facebook page.