What could be better than fresh produce from a farmers’ market? Fresh produce from a farmers’ market ordered online from the comfort of your couch, of course.

Centre Markets allows anyone in the State College, Boalsburg, or Lemont areas to order fresh produce without leaving their home.

The website’s venture was officially started in the spring of 2020 by North Atherton Farmers Markets (NAFM) board member Sabine Carey. Its launch allowed the community to continue supporting local farmers throughout COVID-19.

“About a third of our orders are local deliveries, and our community has really appreciated that option — especially for those without cars or those who are isolated at home during illness,” Carey said.

Now with over 60 local farmers and food artisans, the interface offers everything from locally grown produce, flowers, herbs, baked goods, dairy, egg and meat products, and even chef-prepared meals.

“When we first started the online market, we thought it would be a temporary measure, but demand has remained strong, and our customers have really rallied around the convenient access that Centre Markets offers to such a wide selection of producers,” Carey said.

Centre Markets is in the process of expanding beyond online ordering and is renovating a building in Pine Grove Mills, set to open in the spring, that will allow year-round access to local goods.

The new building will allow an opportunity to minimize single-use waste, showcase local artists, and feature various fruit trees and garden beds to demonstrate gardening practices that can be replicated at home.

Additionally, the new location will share space with start-up non-profit Centre Kitchen Collective which will offer a shared-use kitchen for cooking and nutrition classes and allow local farmers, food start-ups, and food entrepreneurs to use it.

Orders can be placed on the Centre Market website between Wednesdays at noon and Fridays at 5 p.m. and can be picked up or delivered on Saturdays. Pickup orders are temporarily available at Legacy Builders, located at 25 Decibel Drive in State College, between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.

A list of the farmers Centre Markets works with can be found here.