The Forsyth Farmers’ Market in Savannah, Ga. has announced the release of a mobile app for customers shopping at the Saturday and Farm Truck 912 markets. Designed and built by Paragon Design Group, the app is now available for download on iOS and Android mobile devices.

The app was funded through a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture Farmers Market Promotion Program. “This will greatly boost our ability to make locally grown and produced food easily accessible to everyone in Savannah,” said Teri Schell, co-founder and executive director of the Forsyth Farmers’ Market. “We’re excited about the communication possibilities this opens up for us, our vendors and our customers.”

The FFM mobile app allows users to:

- Find out when and where the next market will be held and add dates to calendar

- See expected produce and products, and which vendors will be at the market.

- Get real-time notifications about important changes or specials

- Track down the mobile farmers’ market, Farm Truck 912

- Get to know local farmers and vendors

- Read the latest news from the market

- Learn answers to frequently asked questions

- Get in touch with FFM and provide feedback

Susan Isaacs, principal at Paragon Design Group, notes that a key function of the app will be to serve as a communications tool for market organizers to contact customers in real time. “The web-based management component for market organizers to make informational updates will keep everyone on the same page with pop-up notifications,” explains Isaacs. “This instant accessibility can mean the difference between a week of eating prepackaged foods from the corner store, or affordable, nutritious food from Farm Truck 912, for instance.”

The app has been built to allow for expansion in the future, making it possible to improve and increase functionality and make adjustments based on community feedback and developing needs. Isaacs says that plans are already underway to add onto the app. “With this phase 1 release, we’re focused on improving FFM’s ability to get information to their customers. Moving forward we’ll be adding more customer features, as well as features to improve communication between the market and vendors. Ultimately we hope to offer some new possibilities in how people can purchase from the market.”