It's all about convenience these days, and an online ordering option is growing its network of local farms across Northeast Ohio to help customers stock up on locally sourced items.

Instead of driving all over to buy fresh food and produce, Market Wagon will deliver it right to your front door.

The online ordering option launched across the Cleveland, Canton and Youngstown market last fall and took off during the pandemic.

"What people discovered then was that our local food supply chain was more secure and stable than some of the industrial food, where grocery stores shelves would be empty, we have supply from local producers," Nick Carter said, CEO of Market Wagon.

Sales hit the $1 million mark in less than a year since its launch across 12 counties and Carter expects those numbers to more than double year over year.

Fresh eggs or produce from a local farm, food from a local chef or baker are just a click away.

The website doesn't require a subscription fee. Deliveries are once a week on Thursday afternoons for a flat fee of $6.95. The deliveries arrive in insulated totes using ice packs to preserve freshness.

During the covid-19 pandemic restrictions, Woolf Farms in Salem decided to start selling apples that were supposed to go to local schools.

"All the schools closed down, so we had an excess amount of apples that we weren't sure what to do with," Dale Woolf said, owner of Woolf Farms.

The apples were supposed to be delivered to 35 to 40 local schools.

Woolf decided to put his apples on Market Wagon and sales took off.

"Market Wagon was more a life raft when covid hit," he said.

Now he's selling fresh apple cider, apple butter, several apple varieties and farm fresh cage free eggs to customers online.

Vendors and farmers have access to free online marketing and sales seminars.

The tools and information helped Woolf decide to build a brand new market off of State Route 9 in Salem.

Inside he sells locally sourced baked goods, fresh donuts, honey, jams and jellies, syrup, soaps and body lotions, meats and more from local and regional farms and makers.

He also has gift boxes filled with locally made and sourced items for sale during the holidays. 

Woolf says he tries to keep the prices low so that people can afford to feed their families.

"We have several local businesses all around us, most of them within 3 miles," he said.

The company uses independent contractors for its deliveries and is always looking to hire more drivers.