A couple of industrious Rosebud residents have found a way to serve customers and also provide a market for some small producers who are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
B.J. Janzen, owner of the Rosebud Country Inn and Elly Krogman have established the Rosebud Country Market, an online market. The premise is simple. They post their product offerings online weekly, ordering closes on Wednesday, and customers can roll up to the Rosebud Country Inn on Saturday afternoon for pick up. They offer everything from a cup of coffee to fresh vegetables.
“Being in Rosebud, the theatre dictates a lot of our guests, as soon as COVID was announced and the isolation began, on the first Saturday, we had 58 cancellations, So my mind started going, what can I do to bring in some income and help the community?” said Janzen.
She has been pondering the idea of a farmer’s market for about a year. Krogman is involved with a family of growers in Lacombe, and they came up with the idea of having an online market.
“I seriously thought we would be lucky if we had 10 orders,” Janzen said. “We launched last Saturday, and by Wednesday at noon we had 39 orders.”
The product offered runs the gamut from fresh produce, baking, fresh eggs, processed meat, yogurt and cheese, soap, honey, even freshly roasted coffee to go. So far there are about 14 suppliers, mostly small local producers.
“There is an amazing amount of quality being produced locally that I am just realizing, Krogman said. “It has been really fun to realize all the local goods around here.”
The break from the close of ordering on Wednesday to the pickup on Saturday is to allow the suppliers to assemble the orders. Janzen says she sold out on the Rosebud Country Inn Pies and is allowing other suppliers to book time in her commercial kitchen for baking.
On pick up day, customers don’t even exit their car, the food is delivered right to the trunk of their cars. They will be in earshot of local buskers on-site keeping spirits up.
Krogman was surprised by the response. They have customers coming from Calgary, Airdrie, Three Hills, Drumheller, Strathmore, and Chestermere.
“It’s a good start and we hope to grow and expand,” said Krogman
She adds it’s a great break from the crowded big box stores.
“It seems like a great place to pick up your groceries,” she said.
