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Chatham

COVID-19 can't stop gardening season

With the gardening season upon us, garden centres and nurseries in Chatham-Kent are doing their best to have the plants, flowers, and vegetables their customers need during the COVID-19 crisis.

Glasshouse Nursery and Garden Centre owner Erin Robbins said her store in Chatham is busier than anticipated right now but she expects business to take a big hit this year.

The store is only taking online orders and is only offering curbside pickup. Robbins said she is getting deliveries twice a week but annuals won't be available for another couple of weeks and hanging baskets can be pre-ordered next week with Mother's Day just around the corner.

She added if customers don't find what they want online, they can always call or Face Time the store. She said arrangements can likely be made because it may be on-site but just hasn't made it onto the website.

For more information about Glasshouse Nursery click here.

Crowell's Greenhouses and Garden Patch in Bothwell launched its online store on Friday and owner John Crowell said it's already very busy. Crowell said people want their favourite products and he doesn't expect any shortages because everything is grown at the farm. He is also only offering curbside service throughout the month of May.

"Our customers are so concerned about availability, this service allows all our customers to order now for May pickup," he said.

Crowell also said he won't know until June how big of a hit his business will take.

More information about Crowell's Greenhouses can be found here.

Meanwhile, the federal and provincial governments have announced $2.5 million to help the agri-food sector expand online and grow their business. The announcement late Friday afternoon said more families are shopping online during the coronavirus outbreak and the Agri-Food Open for E-Business initiative will help food producers, farmers markets, retailers, garden centres, greenhouses, nurseries, and agricultural associations develop online business to provide consumers with greater access to a wide variety of food and agriculture products.

The government partnership is a five-year, $3 billion commitment by upper levels of government to support Canada's agri-food and agri-products sectors.

Applications are now being accepted and those eligible can apply by clicking here.

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