Groceries in 2020
Shopping for groceries in 2020 went from the most mundane experience to a bizarre and terrifying one. Embarking on a food mission has caused a lot of anxiety for the fellow human in this time of crisis. Questions arise through our minds, will there be anything left? Will they have a single roll of toilet paper and could I possibly get the novel virus from picking up a carton of eggs? Times like these have made me appreciate how much I had in New York. Having the simplest things stripped away is quite an eye-opening.
Food shopping looks a bit different for my girlfriend and me these days. We try to keep it to a minimum to respect quarantine guidelines. Once a week we make a trip to our local food market here in Vermont that carries produce and meats from surrounding farms. It is appropriately named The Farm Store. On the drive over, my girlfriend Haley puts together the grocery list. When she finishes, she direct-messages the owner of the Farm Store via Instagram (@thefarmstorevermont). When the owner receives our order, she responds with the bill for the groceries. We pay through the app, Venmo. The owner gathers the items that we have purchased and puts them in a box. When we pull up to the curb, we message the owner to let her know that we’re outside. In front of the store is a table with a sign that says “pick up” as well as the specials for the day. The owner brings our groceries outside and sets them on the table while we wait in the car. We all wave hello, and the owner goes back into the Farm Store. I exit the car and grab the groceries.
It’s pretty cool to think that during this time of crisis we can shop locally and safely at one of our favorite markets. These apps have enabled us to continue our lives safely and productively. It’s nice to see something so big like Instagram and Venmo connect us to the local community of Vermont.