A MARKET trader who was facing months without a place to sell her wares has described how she is “going virtual” – and she’s encouraging others to take the plunge to sell online.

Rosie Pollard makes chutneys, jams, jellies and syrups with locally grown fruits and veg and sells at markets under the name Hedgerow Pantry.

She can usually be found at produce markets in Liskeard, St Neot, Launceston and Padstow. But with events such as these cancelled because of the lockdown, Rosie says her trading abruptly went from six days a week to virtually nothing.

Many farmers markets take a break anyway during January and February, and so, facing the prospect of losing all her income for the foreseeable future, Rosie decided she would have to set up a website and start to sell online.

Having run her own business for nearly a decade and managed a shop, Rosie is more than capable. But the virtual world was not one she was familiar with. And while at 58, she does not exactly quite yet qualify as a ‘silver surfer’, she says it has been a steep learning curve.

“I’m a bit apprehensive about online trading because I’ve not done it before, and so I’m a bit scared of messing something up,” she admits.

“There’s a lot to think about – orders coming in, checking emails, postage costs.

“I’ve got a website that’s so new I don’t quite know how to use it yet. But I need to get used to the technology and the new way of doing things.

“Even when the physical markets start up again, I think I’ll carry on online.”

Rosie is part of Liskeard Hive Live – a Facebook page where producers in South East Cornwall can promote their goods. The first virtual “click and collect” market took place at the weekend.

She’s also been posting on the “Cornwall Christmas Buy Local” Facebook page, where artists, craftspeople and producers in the county are advertising their products to more than 15,000 members.

“There’s a lot of people who do the smaller markets that are saying oh heck, what do I do now,” says Rosie.

“It’s a bit of a scary new normal – but I’d say, give online selling a go.”