Tech-savvy farmers create a virtual marketplace for Haines locals

Two Haines farmers have developed a new website for residents of the Chilkat Valley to purchase natural foods and products from local businesses. The online marketplace provides a new tool for shopping locally at a time when many businesses are struggling. 

Leah Wagner and Nick Schlosstein are the co-creators of Foundroot, a company that sells seeds tailored to grow in Alaska. They also sell produce from their farm to restaurants and locals in Haines. 

Wagner said this spring they began putting more work into their website with help from a grant they won in the Pathway to Prosperity business competition. 

“We had always had the plan to put our produce sales online, same as our seed sales. Then with COVID it became really obvious that we needed to get everything online as soon as possible to create a really safe way for people to access our goods, and also we lost our wholesale accounts because restaurants are closed,” Wagner said.

The pandemic has been a major disruption to the local economy. A lack of tourists and the risk of spreading COVID-19 has kept many stores and restaurants closed. Wagner and Schlosstein decided to reach out to other local businesses and food producers to see if they would like to sell their products on their website. 

“We had the ability to offer something that might create an avenue for sales for them that they didn’t have otherwise. It’s really important to us to keep as many businesses in Haines afloat as we can,” Wagner said. “So anything we can do—even small stuff—to help was really a big priority.”

One business they partnered with is Shoreline Wild Salmon, co-owned by Haines resident Marie Rose. 

Rose has focused on exporting high quality salmon from Alaska to farmers markets and grocery stores in her home state of Michigan. She hopes to develop an online ordering system for customers across the U.S. in the near future. 

Another priority is growing her business’s presence in Alaska. When Foundroot approached her about selling her products to Haines locals through their website, she didn’t hesitate to join. 

“We’ve had a lot of conversations about local food security, and they know that we’re trying to make our products more accessible here in Haines. Our business operates out of Pelican, but I live in Haines full time and I think they’re aware that I still want to have something to contribute to the local community here,” Rose said.

Shoreline isn’t the only business taking advantage of the Foundroot website. Haines chef Travis Kukull will use it to sell gourmet meals and sauces, and Magpie Gallery owner Laura Rodgers will also be selling treats from her store. 

Schlosstein explained that shoppers can place their orders online and pick them up at the Magpie Gallery on Wednesdays. 

“For a lot of people who are working, who aren’t necessarily around on the weekends, we wanted them to be able to come Wednesday evening⁠—get their food for the week,” Schlosstein said. “It’s around the same day as the barge food being put on store shelves, so we thought that was a good time for people to do their weekly shopping.”

The new online marketplace goes live on Sunday. You can check it out at foundroot.com.