How We Turned a Prototype into a Useful Market Map (with Codex)

September 28, 2025

We’ve been quietly reshaping Fresh Local Harvest over the past few weeks. The goal was simple: make it easier to find nearby farmers markets—without asking you to learn a new interface or guess the right search terms. Along the way we moved our workflow into Codex inside VS Code, which turned out to be exactly the nudge we needed to finish the job.

The short version

  • We removed a fragile detour that depended on a flaky government API and committed to a single, reliable Excel → website path.
  • We enriched the data so the map understands cities, states, and ZIP codes the way people actually search.
  • The map now shows results near you, and pins display useful details (name, address, programs like SNAP/WIC).
  • It all deploys cleanly to Cloudflare Pages when we push changes.

Why we changed course

Earlier, the project tried to do two things at once: fetch live data from a government API and process spreadsheets locally. That split left both halves half-done. We decided to focus on one path—the local spreadsheet method—because it’s dependable and gives us control over data quality.

What changed (in human terms)

  • Cleaner data = better search. We standardized city/state/ZIP info and added simple “centers” for cities and ZIP codes. That lets the map search “Tampa” or “33625” and show nearby markets within a short drive instead of guessing.
  • Friendlier map. On desktop, the map and results list sit side-by-side; on phones, the map is front and center with a tidy list beneath. Popups include what matters most: name, address, and key programs (like SNAP).
  • Near me. When you land on the page, the map uses Cloudflare’s privacy-friendly location headers to center near your area and list nearby markets. No sign-ins, no trackers—just a better starting point.

Why Codex (inside VS Code) helped

We’ve done plenty of “copy/paste into a chat” in the past. It works, but it can be slow and scattershot. Codex inside VS Code lives with the codebase, so it can see related files at once and suggest changes that fit the whole project, not just a snippet. That meant we could streamline the data flow, update the map, and tweak copy and layout in one cohesive push instead of a dozen tiny ones.

What you can do now

  • Type a city or ZIP and see the nearby markets, not random name matches.
  • Click any pin to get the essentials (address, programs).
  • Open the site on your phone—the map now behaves like a proper mobile experience.

What’s next

  1. Move the map to the homepage. It’s the heart of the site—let’s put it front-and-center so visitors can search right away.
  2. Enrich the dataset beyond farmers markets. We’ll explore official sources for CSA farms, food hubs, farm stands, and other places to find local produce. The goal: one map, many pathways to fresh food.
  3. Practical details research. We’ll look for trustworthy sources to add hours of operation and contact info.