An integrated virtual market is provided that facilitates communication
between the producers of a given commodity and the parties wishing to
purchase such commodities. This system provides real-time updated
information about local pricing being offered by those purchasers. In
addition, those producers can post offers that can automatically be
accepted by purchasers and have contracts automatically generated. An
important consideration from a purchaser's prospective is minimizing the
risk associated with making such transactions. Due to this, futures
contracts are often obtained. The virtual market system of the present
inventions automatically requests and obtains futures contracts to hedge
the contracts being generated.