VIDALIA — Louisiana farmers and restaurants have been given the opportunity to connect with each other and expand their business through a new website from the LSU AgCenter.

The free Internet marketing tool known as MarketMaker gives agriculture-related businesses increased opportunities to buy and sell locally grown food.

“There are basically operations (on the site) that are buying and selling local products,” LSU AgCenter Economist John Westra said. “There are all types of products on the site that businesses or local residents can purchase.”

Westra said currently more than 650 producers, farmer’s markets and buyers are registered with the website.

“It is very easy to use, and it is free to any local farmer or anyone looking to buy local Louisiana food,” he said. “It’s a two-way street. People can buy or sell their goods on the site.”

Westra said Louisiana is one of 17 states that participates in the MarketMaker project which originated at the University of Illinois-Urbana.

“Out of those 17, we had the second-most hits on our website behind Colorado,” he said.

Westra said the site officially started in September, and has seen a rapid increase in the number of users in only a few months.

“We went from a little over 1,000 users in September to over 8,000 in November,” he said. “We are anticipating that a year after the opening of the site, we will have over a thousand producers.”

Westra said anyone who wants to participate in the program can simply go to the website and create a profile.

“There are a lot of people out there using it, and that only adds to the value of it,” he said. “Seafood, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, anything you want is on the website.”

Mississippi farmers have been using the site longer as they were the sixth state to join MarketMaker in 2009.

Marketing specialist for the Natchez Farmer’s Market Helen Brooks said the program has worked very well for her.

“It has connected me to other growers and vendors in the area,” she said. “I can connect directly with the farmers.”

Brooks said the program has been an excellent source of variety for the farmer’s market.

“It has helped me find items that are difficult to find locally,” she said. “It works wonderfully.”

Brooks said everyday citizens should start to utilize the program more for their produce needs.

“Any person who is looking for any type of produce can find something for them,” she said. “And they can also help support smaller farms at the same time.”